United States Sanitary Commission photograph collection
Abstract
The collection contains photographs related to the United States Sanitary Commission, circa 1861-1865.
Dates
- 1861-1865
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.
Biographical / Historical
The United States Sanitary Commission (USSC), founded in 1861, formed to combat unsanitary conditions in the Union Army camps and provide medical supplies during the Civil War. The commission, authorized by the federal government, organized civilian support of the war effort in donating medicine, food and other supplies to the Union Army. Medical inspectors, employed by USSC, would visit hospitals and camps to ensure that a clean environment was provided to the soldiers. The USSC also set up and staffed hospitals and lodges for Union soldiers.
Extent
0.21 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The items in this collection are arranged according to PP catalog numbers.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Amy and Richard Steiner, December, 1977.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains photographs related to the United States Sanitary Commission. The photographs depict Commission buildings in Washington, D.C. and Virginia, as well as Camp Letterman, the battlefield hospital at Gettysburg. Dr. Gordon Winslow is featured in many of the Gettysburg photographs. Most of the images are cartes de visite and cabinet cards widely sold during and after the Civil War.
The photographs were grouped together by size and divided into series based on their accession numbers. The photographs were donated at separate times by Amy and Richard Steiner, and therefore given multiple accession numbers. Series I pertains to the photographs labeled accession number 51211, series II to 51706, and series III to 53662. The photograph in series IV was not assigned an accession number. Series IA contains photographs donated with 51211. These items were owned by Dr. Lewis H. Steiner, U. S. Sanitary Commission Chief Inspector, Army of the Potomac.
Source
- Title
- Guide to the United States Sanitary Commission photograph collection
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- Lara Westwood
- Date
- 2013-11
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 2020-03-03: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Mallory Herberger.
Repository Details
Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750
specialcollections@mdhistory.org