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 1895, the War Department addressed the issue of wear and tear at Spangler’s Spring due to high visitation by erecting the stone encapsulation structure seen in this Tipton image.  Until the National Park Service deemed the groundwater at risk of contamination, visitors could use an attached ladle to serve water from the spring – sharing in the experience of the fighting men who reportedly used it as a water source during the battle.  The surrounding portion of Spangler Meadow is shown around the spring, as are Geary Avenue and lower Culp’s Hill. The photo measures 7.5” x 9.4” and is in nice condition.  Some subtle cracking of the glossed front is present around edge areas from handling, with some light creasing at the corners, the edges of which remain sharp.  The back is plain with no markings and no evidence of previous mounting.

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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