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Herman Haupt Civil War Military Transportation Photographs

 Collection
Identifier: SC Photo-0001

Scope and Contents

"A series of photographs is sent to officers in command of departments ... with a view to increase the efficiency ... of the public service ... whereby our own communications can be most readily preserved ... and those of the enemy most rapidly and effectually destroyed." Some photographs accompanied by mounted slips with descriptive letterpress

Contained in one manuscript box. Each photograph is kept in a separate folder with any duplicates or reprints. The bound text is stored in its own folder, as are the miscellaneous photographs.

Series I and II consist of photographs of bridges, roads, and other Union army engineering projects taken by Andrew J. Russell and a bound work by Herman Haupt describing these photographs. The photographs and their associated text description were compiled by Herman Haupt, "Brigadier General in Charge of United States Military Railroads," and published in 1863. 82 photographs originally accompanyed Haupt's text, of which Lehigh holds 60 unique photographs and several duplicates. Haupt's text includes descriptions of each photograph, which are pasted on the reverse side of many of the photographs. There is handwriting in two different hands on the front cover of the bound volume. The first handwritten section reads "Photographs were taken by Capt. A.J. Russell Chief of Photograph Corps. U.S. Military Railroads" and the second section reads "This handwriting is that of Herman Haupt with which I am familiar. Edward Haupt July 19/1928"

Series III consists of images from an unknown publication, many of which appear to be illustrations of scenes depicted in the photographs of Russell and Haupt. These images appear to have slight differences from the original photographs including changing the skin color of some individuals.

Dates

  • 1863

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Access Restrictions:Collection housed remotely. Users need to contact 24 hours in advance.

Conditions Governing Use

Collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

Herman Haupt was born in Philadelphia in 1817 and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1835. He resigned his commission to become a civil engineer. He was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad and in 1856 undertook work on the Hoosac Tunnel for the Troy and Greenfield Railroad in Massachusetts. From 1862 to 1863 he served as chief of construction and transportation on the United States military railroads and retired with the rank of brigadier-general of volunteers. In 1876 he undertook construction of an oil pipeline for the Pennsylvania Tranportation Company. From 1881 until 1884 he served as general manager of the Northern Pacific Railroad, was president of General Compressed Air and Power Company from 1892 to 1905, and was president of the National Nutrient Company from 1899 until his death in 1905.

From the guide to the Herman Haupt papers, 1800-1984, (Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University)

First official Union photographer, noted for recording engineering progects; later worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and photographed the historic meeting at Promontory Point.

From the description of Civil War photographs of bridge construction in Alexandria, Va. [graphic], circa 1861-1863. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 435542248

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection contains an incomplete series of photographs taken by Andrew J. Russell under the direction of Herman Haupt. These photographs capture different methods for the construction and deconstruction of bridges and other engineering projects implemented during the Civil War to aid military transportation. These photographs are described in detail by Haupt in the accompanying text volume. A series of images, many of which appear to be illustrations of scenes depicted in the photographs, are also included as a separate series. These miscellaneous images appear to have been bound together at some point.

"A series of photographs is sent to officers in command of departments ... with a view to increase the efficiency ... of the public service ... whereby our own communications can be most readily preserved ... and those of the enemy most rapidly and effectually destroyed." Some photographs accompanied by mounted slips with descriptive letterpress

Collection contained in one manuscript box. Each photograph is kept in a separate folder with any duplicates or reprints. The bound text is stored in its own folder, as are the miscellaneous photographs.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase. 12/01/2005

Status
Completed
Author
Alex Japha
Date
2017-03-16
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Lehigh University Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Lehigh University
Linderman Library
30 Library Drive
Bethlehem PA 18045 USA
610-758-4506
610-758-6091 (Fax)