African American Faces of the Civil War

An Album

By Ronald S. Coddington | Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

About the book

Discover the men of color who fought for their freedom during the Civil War through profiles illustrated with original wartime photographs.

A renowned collector of Civil War photographs and a prodigious researcher, Ronald S. Coddington combines compelling archival images with biographical stories that reveal the human side of the war. This third volume in his series on Civil War soldiers contains previously unpublished photographs of African American Civil War participants—many of whom fought to secure their freedom.

During the Civil War, 200,000 African American men enlisted in the Union army or navy. Some of them were free men and some escaped from slavery; others were released by sympathetic owners to serve the war effort. African American Faces of the Civil War tells the story of the Civil War through the images of men of color who served in roles that ranged from servants and laborers to enlisted men and junior officers.

Coddington discovers these portraits—cartes de visite, ambrotypes, and tintypes—in museums, archives, and private collections. He has pieced together each individual’s life and fate based upon personal documents, military records, and pension files. These stories tell of ordinary men who became fighters, of the prejudice they faced, and of the challenges they endured. African American Faces of the Civil War makes an important contribution to a comparatively understudied aspect of the war and provides a fascinating look into lives that helped shape America.

Editions of African American Faces of the Civil War

Hardcover
ISBN 9781421406251
EBook
ISBN 9781421407234

Read an Excerpt

Discover the men of color who fought for their freedom during the Civil War through profiles illustrated with original wartime photographs.

A renowned collector of Civil War photographs and a prodigious researcher, Ronald S. Coddington combines compelling archival images with biographical stories that reveal the human side of the war. This third volume in his series on Civil War soldiers contains previously unpublished photographs of African American Civil War participants—many of whom fought to secure their freedom.

During the Civil War, 200,000 African American men enlisted in the Union army or navy. Some of them were free men and some escaped from slavery; others were released by sympathetic owners to serve the war effort. African American Faces of the Civil War tells the story of the Civil War through the images of men of color who served in roles that ranged from servants and laborers to enlisted men and junior officers.

Coddington discovers these portraits—cartes de visite, ambrotypes, and tintypes—in museums, archives, and private collections. He has pieced together each individual’s life and fate based upon personal documents, military records, and pension files. These stories tell of ordinary men who became fighters, of the prejudice they faced, and of the challenges they endured. African American Faces of the Civil War makes an important contribution to a comparatively understudied aspect of the war and provides a fascinating look into lives that helped shape America.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is African American Faces of the Civil War about?

Discover the men of color who fought for their freedom during the Civil War through profiles illustrated with original wartime photographs.

A renowned collector of Civil War photographs and a prodigious researcher, Ronald S. Coddington combines compelling archival images with biographical stories that reveal the human side of the war. This third volume in his series on Civil War soldiers contains previously unpublished photographs of African American Civil War participants—many of whom fought to secure their freedom.

During the Civil War, 200,000 African American men enlisted in the Union army or navy. Some of them were free men and some escaped from slavery; others were released by sympathetic owners to serve the war effort. African American Faces of the Civil War tells the story of the Civil War through the images of men of color who served in roles that ranged from servants and laborers to enlisted men and junior officers.

Coddington discovers these portraits—cartes de visite, ambrotypes, and tintypes—in museums, archives, and private collections. He has pieced together each individual’s life and fate based upon personal documents, military records, and pension files. These stories tell of ordinary men who became fighters, of the prejudice they faced, and of the challenges they endured. African American Faces of the Civil War makes an important contribution to a comparatively understudied aspect of the war and provides a fascinating look into lives that helped shape America.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in African American Faces of the Civil War?

History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas

Where can I read a sample of African American Faces of the Civil War?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781421406251

How long is African American Faces of the Civil War and how many pages does it have?

African American Faces of the Civil War has 384 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book African American Faces of the Civil War?

Ronald S. Coddington

Who is the Publisher of the book African American Faces of the Civil War?

Johns Hopkins University Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

African American Faces of the Civil War is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781421406251) and ebook(ISBN 9781421407234)

Where can I buy African American Faces of the Civil War online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy African American Faces of the Civil War?