[William H. Seward, Secretary of State during the Civil War with top hat and cane]

Archive record

1 photograph : albumen print on card mount ; mount 100 x 62 mm (carte de visite format)

About this photograph

This carte de visite portrait was made by Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries in 1860, just before the Civil War began. The carte de visite format, a small albumen print mounted on card stock, was widely used during this period. Soldiers on both sides commonly sat for such portraits before leaving for war, giving family members an image to keep.

The record identifies the subject as William H. Seward and notes he served as Secretary of State during the Civil War. The year 1860 places this sitting during the final months before the conflict began.

Brady's studio built a lasting reputation photographing the Civil War era. The technology of the time required long exposure times, which ruled out action photographs entirely. The visual record of the war consists overwhelmingly of portraits, camp scenes, fortifications, and photographs of the dead after battles had ended.

Compiled from the catalogue record and reference notes on the formats and events involved. The archive record above is the primary source.

About the format

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