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.

In the years since the battle, Devil’s Den has become an iconic location.  Aside from the immediate aftermath of the fighting, Tipton was among the first to photograph the site in detail and promote its significance and uniqueness through commercial images and prints. This frontal view of Devil’s Den shows newer growth vegetation and a lack of development or interpretation.  Also noted are very clear carvings and early graffiti on the faces of the boulders at center.  The photo measures 7” x 8.9” with a catalogue tag reading “853 – Devil’s Den – Front View”, denoting this as negative 853 within Tipton’s portfolio.  A slight crease crosses the upper left and right corners, while 3 corner edges have separated from the glossed outer layer in very small sections without compromising the image.

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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