Found old photograph

[Cody86]

Hi, i found this forum while trying to research the origin of an old dagguerrotype? That i found in my grandfathers drawer when he passed away. The box was full of other old photos but this one is the only one of this type. I believe the man in the photo could be a relative that is buried in a nearby cemetery that fought in the 2nd Texas Infantry. Looking for any info related to how i could go about confirming the identity or who I should take the Dagguerrotype to. Thanks for any info and sorry if ive broken any forum rules by posting this.

 

[James N.]

Welcome to the forums! Firstly, your photograph is NOT a daguerreotype but a ferrotype, more commonly called a tintype. Dags and their immediate successors ambrotypes were exceedingly fragile and only available in small wooden or thermoplastic cases, unlike the sturdier tintypes, one reason for their popularity until around the turn of the next century. Dags disappeared by about 1860 and ambros by 1870. From the overall appearance of yours it's very typical of early in the war when volunteers posed brandishing their civilian firearms or sometimes a photographer's prop gun; the sitter's clothing and hairstyle are appropriate for that date as well. The paper mat - much cheaper than the cases - suggests a slightly later date, however, possibly as late as the 1870's but not necessarily so. I believe it to be a wartime image.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Can you share his name with us?

 

[Cody86]

Can you share his name with us?

Absolutely, the ancestor that I was referring to was named Job Taylor Archer (1832-1905).

 

[lupaglupa]

Welcome from the researching Civil War Records and Ancestry forum. You've definitely come to the right place for help. Can you access the back of the image? Sometimes there are notes there, like the photographer's name, that help solve the puzzle.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[Mike Serpa]

Absolutely, the ancestor that I was referring to was named Job Taylor Archer (1832-1905).

Thanks. His photo at Find A Grave doesn't look like the one posted here. The one posted here is lacking some detail.

 

[Cody86]

Thanks. His photo at Find A Grave doesn't like the one posted here. The one posted here is lacking some detail.

Ya this is a photo that i took of the original with my iphone. I have the original at my home, but the original is washed out above the shoulder just like the one posted here.

 

[Cody86]

Welcome from the researching Civil War Records and Ancestry forum. You've definitely come to the right place for help. Can you access the back of the image? Sometimes there are notes there, like the photographer's name, that help solve the puzzle.

I will look at the back tomorrow and get a picture. Thank you

 

[Story]

Hi, i found this forum while trying to research the origin of an old dagguerrotype? That i found in my grandfathers drawer when he passed away. The box was full of other old photos but this one is the only one of this type. I believe the man in the photo could be a relative that is buried in a nearby cemetery that fought in the 2nd Texas Infantry. Looking for any info related to how i could go about confirming the identity or who I should take the Dagguerrotype to. Thanks for any info and sorry if ive broken any forum rules by posting this.

View attachment 439285

Rod Coddington (who I think hangs out on CWT?) does a civil war facial recognition thing, but as noted I think your tintype lacks the resolution to do a decent compare-and-contrast.

https://images.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2010/39/5758165_126577097611.jpg