The Mississippi Civil War Sesquicentennial continues and in the coming months we will be highlighting Museum Division collections related to 1861 (and 1862) and the Civil War. Special thanks to Nan Prince, Asst. Director of Collections, for writing this series.
This hand-colored tintype depicts an unknown Confederate soldier. Penciled inside the case, which is not visible in the picture above, is “Taken at Grenada / Miss. Dec 1861 / At that time a Lieut in Infantry.” Like ambrotypes, tintypes were a positive image but supported on a thin sheet of iron instead of glass. Tintypes were first developed in the 1850s and they continued to be made into the twentieth century.
Artifacts from the Museum Division collection that are not on exhibit are available for viewing by appointment. Please contact Nan Prince, Assistant Director of Collections, by email to schedule an appointment.