Civil War Photography in Tennessee
Photography was a relatively new invention at the outbreak
of the war, having only been in existence for little more than twenty years.
None the less, the number of photographers in business swelled prior
to the Civil War reaching unprecedented numbers during the war. Today,
over three thousand photographers of the Civil War period have been
documented. This list includes mostly white men, but a few women and
African Americans owned galleries as well. Most of these were small
businesses that catered to individuals, but some photographers among the lot
held contracts with the U.S. Government. Among the more famous names
under government contract were Matthew Brady, Alexander Gardner, Timothy
O'Sullivan, and George Barnard. These men and their associates took
on the task of documenting the most devastating war ever to hit the American
mainland.
Tennessee did not have a shortage of photographers taking photographs
with in her borders during the war. Many of these men and women were
native to the state. Others, like George Banard, came through as a part
of the United States Military's documentory effort. Below is a list
of photographers who worked in Tennessee during the war years. The
list is not exhaustive and will be added to as other photographers are discovered.
Tennessee Photographers
(Incomplete list)
|
Photographers
|
County
|
|
Gerorge Banard
|
|
|
L.W. Keen
|
Washington
|
|
Mr. Peasley
|
Hamilton
|