Looking for a photo.

[Virginia Dave]

I am researching a relative and am now looking for a photo. His name is Martin V. B. (Van Buren) Shockley. He was a lieutenant in the 24th Virginia infantry Co. C. He was wounded at Manassas Aug. 29th 1862. Also, wounded May 5, 1862 at Williamsburg. Promoted to Captain March 23, 1863. Resigned Sept. 7, 1863. Taken prisoner September 29, 1862 and paroled. August 20, 1863 left arm amputated due to injury received at Manassas. This information is from Fold3.

Where would be a good place to search for a photo?

 

[2rivcob73]

they waited a whole year to amputate his arm? That seems rare for back then.

 

[Gary Morgan]

Where would be a good place to search for a photo?

I once wrote a piece on finding photos of ancestors for Ancestry Magazine, back when there was an Ancestry magazine, but it didn't deal specifically with Confederate vets or Civil War.

General suggestions:

Google the name and look at Google Images. Add place and or dates to help narrow the search down if you don't find him right away.

Search Google Books. If there's an online regimental history and he was an officer, there may be a photo of him in there. Ditto if they have magazines like "Confederate Veteran" -- there might be a photo. (Or, look for a hard copy of the regimental history, since it would be cool to own one. I recommend Alibris or Abebooks, but there's always Ebay)

Search Ancestry - a lot of people post pictures of their ancestors there, and you may be descended from the same person.

Look on Deadfred.com - a place to post ancestor's photos. The odds are much smaller there, but you never know.

If you have an Ancestry account, look for photos on passport applications after 1914. You MIGHT also be able to find passport apps for free on FamilySearch, but I'm not sure. I don't know how likely you are to find a Civil War vet applying for a passport post-1914, but you never know!

If you do DNA testing, email your matches on that line and ask if they own any pictures.

Look on Ebay (seriously, I found my great grandfather's glass negatives on there!).

Go to Chronicling America - the Library of Congress's online newspaper database. Search for your ancestor's name and home state. The papers start running illustrations around the 1890s. Even if you don't find a photo, you may find an obit, interview, or other accounting.

Hope this helps!

Good Luck!

 

[lupaglupa]

I once wrote a piece on finding photos of ancestors for Ancestry Magazine, back when there was an Ancestry magazine, but it didn't deal specifically with Confederate vets or Civil War.

General suggestions:

Google the name and look at Google Images. Add place and or dates to help narrow the search down if you don't find him right away.

Search Google Books. If there's an online regimental history and he was an officer, there may be a photo of him in there. Ditto if they have magazines like "Confederate Veteran" -- there might be a photo. (Or, look for a hard copy of the regimental history, since it would be cool to own one. I recommend Alibris or Abebooks, but there's always Ebay)

Search Ancestry - a lot of people post pictures of their ancestors there, and you may be descended from the same person.

Look on Deadfred.com - a place to post ancestor's photos. The odds are much smaller there, but you never know.

If you have an Ancestry account, look for photos on passport applications after 1914. You MIGHT also be able to find passport apps for free on FamilySearch, but I'm not sure. I don't know how likely you are to find a Civil War vet applying for a passport post-1914, but you never know!

If you do DNA testing, email your matches on that line and ask if they own any pictures.

Look on Ebay (seriously, I found my great grandfather's glass negatives on there!).

Go to Chronicling America - the Library of Congress's online newspaper database. Search for your ancestor's name and home state. The papers start running illustrations around the 1890s. Even if you don't find a photo, you may find an obit, interview, or other accounting.

Hope this helps!

Good Luck!

@Gary Morgan that is a great list! Thanks for sharing it. Is the original article you wrote available online?

 

[Gary Morgan]

@Gary Morgan that is a great list! Thanks for sharing it. Is the original article you wrote available online?

Sort of.

Ancestry magazine

Ancestry magazine focuses on genealogy for today’s family historian, with tips for using Ancestry.com, advice from family history experts, and success stories from genealogists across the globe. Regular features include “Found!” by Megan Smolenyak, reader-submitted heritage recipes, Howard...

books.google.com

It's listed under my - ahem - "maiden name." If the link doesn't work, search for "Flesh and Bone" "Ancestry magazine" and "Mary Gorman." Those 3 things taken all together should get you to it.

Glad you found the posting helpful. And 3 guesses how I came up with my pen name....

 

[lupaglupa]

The link worked fine. Or should I say forked wine?

 

[Gary Morgan]

The link worked fine. Or should I say forked wine?

Bonus points for you!

[As a side note, they just announced in my Mass. high school that we'll be closing down for 2 weeks effective at the end of the day. Everyone is smiling....]

 

[Fairfield]

I'd first go to Google and enter your ancestor's name. When the hits show up, click on images. Secondly, I'd go to your state's web site to see if it has a collection of ACW photographs (Maine has on to 600). Thirdly, there may be someone in your state with a collection of ACW photographs (I'd see who's name keeps popping up as "courtesy of" on area ACW pictues)--then get a hold of him or her.

 

[Virginia Dave]

they waited a whole year to amputate his arm? That seems rare for back then.

I believe it may have been after a second wound.

 

[Virginia Dave]

I once wrote a piece on finding photos of ancestors for Ancestry Magazine, back when there was an Ancestry magazine, but it didn't deal specifically with Confederate vets or Civil War.

General suggestions:

Google the name and look at Google Images. Add place and or dates to help narrow the search down if you don't find him right away.

Search Google Books. If there's an online regimental history and he was an officer, there may be a photo of him in there. Ditto if they have magazines like "Confederate Veteran" -- there might be a photo. (Or, look for a hard copy of the regimental history, since it would be cool to own one. I recommend Alibris or Abebooks, but there's always Ebay)

Search Ancestry - a lot of people post pictures of their ancestors there, and you may be descended from the same person.

Look on Deadfred.com - a place to post ancestor's photos. The odds are much smaller there, but you never know.

If you have an Ancestry account, look for photos on passport applications after 1914. You MIGHT also be able to find passport apps for free on FamilySearch, but I'm not sure. I don't know how likely you are to find a Civil War vet applying for a passport post-1914, but you never know!

If you do DNA testing, email your matches on that line and ask if they own any pictures.

Look on Ebay (seriously, I found my great grandfather's glass negatives on there!).

Go to Chronicling America - the Library of Congress's online newspaper database. Search for your ancestor's name and home state. The papers start running illustrations around the 1890s. Even if you don't find a photo, you may find an obit, interview, or other accounting.

Hope this helps!

Good Luck!

Very helpful information. Thank you. Google I have already tried and find a grave, but now I have new places to search. Thanks again.