Series I: Photographs
Scope and Contents note
Series I. Photographs contains silver gelatin and cyanotype prints of various historic locations. The series is divided into two subseries: 4 x 5 Inch Prints and 5 x 7 Inch Prints, which are further arranged by location.
Subseries I.A. 4 x 5 Inch Prints contains silver gelatin prints of sites in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Images in Connecticut include several view of General Israel Putnam's Homestead in Greenwich. New Jersey locations include Washington Rock in Plainsfield, Washington's Headquarters in Somerville and Cornwallis' Lodge in Alpine. Pennsylvania images include monuments in Valley Forge, Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House and the Barstram House all in Philadelphia.
The majority of photographs are New York State sites. Historic homes include Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, Hunt Mansion in Hunts Point, Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh and Stone House at West Haverstraw, where General Lafayette stayed during his return visit to the United States.
Along with images of buildings and historic locations in New York State, there are also portraits. These include several images of an unnamed "Ramapo Mountaineer Family," posed beside their primitive log home. There are also two photographs of James Johnson along with his family at their White Plains home. The note on the photograph identifies Johnson, an African American, as a former slave from Florida who, after escaping from his master, enlisted in the Navy and served in the Civil War.
Subseries I.B. 5 x 7 Inch Prints includes both silver gelatin and cyanotype prints that are 5 x 7 inches and larger, as well as 4 x 5 inch prints that are mounted on paper or board. Photographs contain images of sites in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. New Jersey images include the Aviation field at Lakehurst.
Photographs of Manhattan include one image of a shanty town at Fifth Avenue, north of 116th Street, taken in 1893. Other images include High Bridge, the Morris-Jumel House and Hamilton Grange.