About The Project
The Library of Congress, National Archives, and Smithsonian Institute house an extraordinary archive of unseen Civil War photographs. These institutional collections, along with holdings from major museums and private estates, contain thousands of glass and metal plates that hold microscopic detail through 150+ year-old chemical processes.
Our familiar understanding of the war stems from just a fraction of these images. The rest remain in archives, their extraordinary stories waiting to emerge. Each restored photograph reveals the conflict beyond our imagination; instead we can see it through the eyes of those who lived it—Alive in vivid color and clarity.
Introduced in 1839, Daguerreotypes have a distinctive appearance. Because they’re reflective, you have to tilt them at a 45-degree angle in order to view the image. Otherwise, the silver-coated copper plate is often so shiny you just see yourself in the plate.
Daguerreotype
Patented in 1854, Ambrotypes are on glass. Backed with a dark substance (such as varnish or paper) they look positive, but when the backing starts to deteriorate, you can often see through the glass. This gives the image a ghostly appearance.
Ambrotype
Tintypes, patented in 1856, are actually on iron, not tin. Unlike a daguerreotype, tintypes are not reflective. While you can find them in cases (like the previous two image types), most tintypes found in collections aren’t in any type of protective sleeve or case.
Tintype
Glass plate negatives, introduced in 1851 brought unprecedented clarity and detail to photography by coating glass with a light-sensitive emulsion. Valued for their sharpness and depth, these negatives marked a significant advancement over earlier methods, despite their fragility and the careful handling they require.
Glass Plates
Image Types
The images in this project are all derived from early photographic methods, outlined below:
Images from Civil War-era America Meticulously Enhanced and Colorized
An intimate telling of America's greatest conflict, seen again in brilliant color and clarity for the first time in over 160 years.
Enabled by groundbreaking technology and thousands of hours of manual artistry, witness the defining era through images of the key figures, ordinary people, and the most critical events that shaped a nation.
Image Gallery
A selection from ALIVE: The Civil War In Color
More images coming soon.
Unidentified Girl in Mourning Dress
Photo shows a girl holding a framed image of her father. Judging from her necklace, mourning ribbons, and dress, it is likely that her father was killed in the war.
Name: Unknown
Background: Northern Civilian
Year: Circa 1861
Location: Unknown
Image Type: Ambrotype
Image Source: Library of Congress
.png)
Young Woman in Striped Dress
An unknown young woman
Name: Unknown
Background: Unknown
Year: 1860's
Location: United States of America
Image Type: Tintype
Image Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture
Captain Ferdinand F. Boltz
When Fort Sumter was fired on, Boltz enlisted and served until the close of the war in the 12th Indiana Infantry and in the 88th Regt. Ind. Vols., being promoted to rank of captain in 1863.
Name: Captain Ferdinand F. Boltz
Background: Union Soldier, 12th Indiana Infantry Regiment & 88th Indiana Infantry Regiment
Year: Between 1861 and 1865
Location: United States of America
Image Type: Ambrotype
Image Source: The Library of Congress
Unidentified Confederate Soldier
Unidentified soldier in Confederate artillery uniform and kepi
Name: Unknown
Background: Confederate Army
Year: Between 1861 and 1865
Location: Confederate States of America
Image Type: Ambrotype
Image Source: The Library of Congress
Maj. Gen. Adelbert Ames
Adelbert Ames earned the Medal of Honor for his leadership and bravery at the First Battle of Bull Run and rose to the rank of brevet major general, serving with distinction in campaigns such as the Siege of Vicksburg, the Overland Campaign, and the war’s final battles.
After the war, he became a Reconstruction-era politician, businessman, and inventor, remaining an advocate for civil rights and public service until his death at the age of 97 as the last surviving Civil War general.
Name: Adelbert Ames
Background: Union Soldier, 5th U.S. Artillery & Brevet Major General
Year: Between 1860 and 1870
Location: The United States of America
Image Type: Glass Plate Negative
Image Source: The Library of Congress
General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee was a Confederate general who commanded the Army of Northern Virginia, achieving notable victories in battles such as the Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run, and Chancellorsville. Despite his tactical brilliance, his defeat at Gettysburg and subsequent surrender at Appomattox Court House marked the Confederacy's decline and the war's end.
Name: Robert E. Lee
Background: Confederate General, Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
Year: March 1864
Location: The Confederate States of America
Image Type: Glass Plate Negative
Image Source: The Library of Congress
