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.

Just East of Little Round Top sits the monument of the 6^th Maine Infantry along the oft-overlooked Howe Avenue. Primarily, the area was occupied by reserves of the 6^th Corps, in place to prevent any flanking maneuvers and to be quickly funneled into action should the need have arisen. The condition of the card is very good, with scant edge and corner wear.  The bottom of the card features a stylized logo that was characteristic of Tipton prints circa the early 1900’s which reads, “W.H. Tipton Battle Field PHOTOGRAPHER GETTYSBURG, PA.” The reverse features a detailed logo with engraved style battlefield scenes and portraits of the 1st Massachusetts Infantry monument, the Soldiers National Monument, and the Valley of Death with a Parrott Gun – perhaps meant to be one of the 4th New York’s. The overall measurements are 6.5” x 4.3”.

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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