Identifying photos, and Wiki articles

[Bmac48]

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/lilj/
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?st=grid&co=lilj

The Library of Congress recently expanded their Civil War photo collection online, and the above has more than 700 photos of individual soldiers and sailors. A small fraction of these photos include a name; the remainder are unidentified.

The purpose here is two-fold. First, these people need to be identified. Second, in CivilWarWiki one of the goals is to have a biography on each soldier who served. If you would like to submit a bio on your Union or Confederate ancestor, I will be more than happy to post it on the site for you.

 

[Nathanb1]

That is cool indeed. I'll go get my Sanders boys polished up!

 

[kholland]

It's good that these have been updated with descriptions and identifications. I saw this collection a few months ago with just photos.

 

[Bmac48]

http://www.civilwarwiki.net/wiki/Samuel_Mathews

Private Samuel Matthews, Company G, 3rd Michigan Infantry is an example of what I mean for these biographies. This man was an ordinary soldier; he had no major awards, wasn't noted in history, died in a prison camp. But he still means something to future generations who want to learn as much as they can about the ACW.

 

[CWBuff26]

I sure would love to find a war time picture of my ancestors but the only pictures I have of them are post war and when they are really old so I have no idea what they would've looked like when they were in their late teens/early twenties

 

[M E Wolf]

CWBuff26,

I sure would love to find a war time picture of my ancestors but the only pictures I have of them are post war and when they are really old so I have no idea what they would've looked like when they were in their late teens/early twenties

Consider going to a forensic artist? See if students going through forensic art school can roll back the years. At times taking head measures, can form a mold and then clay it up and then make a possible youthful rendering. If that doesn't appeal to you, forensic artist sketch. Retired forensic artists sometimes do these things for folks.

Just some thoughts.

M. E. Wolf

 

[CWBuff26]

Wow I never thought of that I think I will look and see if there are any round here thanks,

 

[M E Wolf]

CWBuff26,

FBI, Local police, Courts sometimes have court-room artists. Morgue when there are John/Jane Does--especially children and teens, will be subjected to reconstruction in the hopes of finding who they were; why they aren't missing, etc. They should have names of these forensic artists. They could knock out a sketch in a few minutes for description of criminals--with a photo they could probably regress the age rather quickly.

You're lucky--you have a photograph to work from.

Now, if you get frustrated -- look at your Computer store for software called "Poser." Poser 8 or 9, I think are the current ones. You are alleged 'able' to use a .jpg and can change it into an animation, change faces, etc. Might have to make a cut out paper uniform to fit over the naked form. Not sure if there are applications for ACW uniforms, etc.

Wow I never thought of that I think I will look and see if there are any round here thanks,

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

M. E. Wolf

 

[CWBuff26]

Thanks again I really aprreciate it

 

[Bmac48]

Pics of them in their later years would do for a bio article in CWW. You may also want to check on the various historical units in your part of the country. These are people who "re-create", say, the 4th Indiana Cavalry for reenactments, and a lot of them also collect and maintain records of the actual units which served in the war. It is very possible that the one near you may have more on your ancestor than just a mustering roster.