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 Tipton cabinet card photo features a popular view of the National Cemetery, often seen colorized on many postcards and souvenirs throughout the late 19^th century and beyond.  It was copyrighted in 1882 and taken from the GAR Tower on East Cemetery Hill. A small note of copyright and credit from the negative is visible at low left over the Baltimore Pike. The front of the mounting card has no writing or embossments, but the reverse features a desirable cut and glued information card from Tipton’s studio which details the history of the cemetery. The mounting card shows very minor wear at the corners and both the photo and information card are in great condition.  Overall measurements are 6.5” x 4.2”.

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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