Two soldiers at military camp portrait   Save
Albert J. Ewing Collection
Description: Taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912, this photograph shows two army soldiers standing outside a tent holding sabers in their right hands with the scabbards on the left. These soldiers are likely members of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Ohio-based infantry units often consisting entirely of men from one town or county. A note is etched at the top of the glass plate negative, but the words are no longer legible. Like most of Ewing's work, it was likely taken in southeastern Ohio or central West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Albert J. Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio Historical Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV71_B13_F729
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Portrait photography--United States--History; U.S. Army; Soldiers; Military training
Places: Ohio; West Virginia