William Henry Tipton (1850–1929) was born in Gettysburg, and began apprenticing to photographer brothers Isaac and Charles Tyson at the age of twelve. Although the Tysons closed shop during the Battle of Gettysburg, “According to Tipton’s obituary, Tipton assisted Mathew Brady, the famous Civil War Photographer, in photographing scenes of the battlefield in the days following” (“William Tipton”). In 1866 Tipton and a partner, Robert Myers, purchased the Tyson studio, and in 1880 Tipton went into business on his own, as the W. H. Tipton Company. He photographed views of the battlefield, war monuments, and the surrounding town, and made portraits of tourists and veterans. He also served on the Gettysburg town council and was active in the Republican Party, serving a term as a state representative. He championed several controversial efforts to promote Gettysburg tourism and commercialize memorialization of the battlefield.

This cabinet card photograph is in very nice condition with minimal wear.  At center, it features the monument of Thompson’s Independent Pennsylvania Artillery Batteries C and F, positioned along the Wheatfield/Millerstown Road on the northern edge of the Peach Orchard.  Most of the monument’s text is legible and the side profile is clear.  Young fruiting trees make up the background and hang over the monument, while appears to rest atop freshly graveled ground with no grass. The photo itself is mounted to a beautiful olive-green card with burgundy edges.  A gold scripted “W.H. Tipton” logo is present at low left, while gold text at low right reads “Gettysburg, Pa.” The reverse of the card is the same shade of green and is undamaged and not stained.  An older notation reading “1209 Rear Thompson Batt. C” is present at the top edge. Overall measurements are 8.5” x 5.25”.

Tipton’s photographic collection – including early prints such as this – helped to shape popular memory of the battle and are an important but rare record of the Gettysburg battlefield’s evolving place in history.  This print is part of a singular private collection and archive acquired by the Horse Soldier and would make quite the unique and important addition to any Civil War or Gettysburg-centric collection.  [cm][ph:L]

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