Category: Education

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From Gettysburg to Saratoga Springs, our Education Program Continues to Grow

We’re proud to announce that the New York State Military Museum has joined the Kenneth J. Bertholf Jr. Civil War History Education Program—our 65th site!

The addition of the museum puts another subscription into workers on the front lines of history— a growing network of battlefields, museums, libraries, archives, and historic sites committed to preserving and sharing the stories of the American past through education, research, and public engagement.

The Bertholf Program provides participating institutions with complimentary subscriptions to Military Images magazine and educational resources focused on Civil War portrait photography and material culture. The program is open to national battlefields, historical sites, and non-profit organizations connected to American history.

Learn more: https://militaryimagesmagazine.com/2023/11/30/the-kenneth-j-bertholf-jr-civil-war-history-education-program/

Fund a participating site or organization: https://shopmilitaryimages.com/collections/support-history/products/the-kenneth-j-bertholf-jr-civil-war-history-education-program

Want to nominate a deserving group? Contact militaryimages@gmail.com.

Participating institutions currently include sites and organizations such as Gettysburg National Military Park, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, the Library of Congress, the National Portrait Gallery, and many others across the country.

We’re grateful to every supporter helping to connect students of the Civil War and American history through period portrait photography.

Photo: Wikimedia

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4 Military Images Stories Named Finalists for 2025 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards

Delighted to share that four stories from Military Images magazine have been named finalists for the 2025 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards:

“Fort Donelson: Early turning point of the Civil War,” by John Walsh
The Union victory at Fort Donelson in February 1862 reshaped the war in its first year and propelled Ulysses S. Grant to national prominence. Read.

“‘Died at Gettysburg’: No Prouder Epitaph Need Any Man Covet,” by Charles T. Joyce
A moving exploration of the life and legacy of Davids, a Philadelphia aristocrat whose sacrifice at Gettysburg resonated through family memory and history. Read.

“On Quinby’s Watch,” by Ronald S. Coddington
Colorado Lt. Ira Quinby, a Signal Corps officer at the 1864 Battle of Westport, helped direct movements that checked Price’s Raid—often called the Gettysburg of the West. Read.

“Bonds of Loyalty: Forged in Mexico, 1847 — Tested in Texas, 1864,” by Ronald S. Coddington
Two Indiana soldiers who served together in the Mexican War found themselves on opposite sides fifteen years later during the Civil War—a powerful story of divided loyalties. Read.

Presented annually by the Army Historical Foundation, the Distinguished Writing Awards recognize excellence in historical scholarship and storytelling that deepens understanding of the U.S. Army’s past.

Final scores are due from the judges on July 1, with winners to be announced shortly thereafter.

We are proud to see Military Images so strongly represented among this year’s finalists. Since 1979, our mission has been to showcase, interpret, and preserve Civil War portrait photography—pairing compelling original images with research-driven narratives that bring the past to life. These nominations reflect that commitment.

Congratulations to our authors, and our thanks to the Army Historical Foundation for this meaningful recognition.

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New Special Issue Tells the Fort Donelson Story Through Photos and Stories of Those Who Were There

A new special issue from Military Images and John Walsh brings the story of Fort Donelson to life through powerful portraits and firsthand accounts.

Originally published as the cover story in our Winter 2025 issue, this 20-page presentation by John Walsh—founder of Fort Donelson Relics and a lifelong student of the Western Theater—offers a deeply informed and personal look at one of the Civil War’s pivotal early victories.

As Walsh writes, the Union triumph in February 1862 “broke the back of the secession serpent.” The fall of the fort triggered the surrender of 14,600 Confederates, opened vital rivers, and led to the loss of Nashville—while elevating a little-known general, Ulysses S. Grant, to national prominence with his demand for unconditional surrender.

From the twin blows at Fort Henry and Donelson—supported by the ironclads of Andrew H. Foote—to the engagement of more than 40,000 soldiers, this issue captures the human dimension of the campaign through the faces and stories of those who were there.

Walsh, who lives near Fort Donelson National Battlefield, has spent decades preserving relics and advancing understanding of the soldiers who fought on this ground. His work reflects a commitment to responsible collecting, historical research, and battlefield preservation.

Founded in 1979, Military Images is dedicated to showcasing, interpreting, and preserving Civil War portrait photography—and the stories behind the faces.

Get your copy for $10 plus shipping at shopmilitaryimages.com.

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Military Images Represents Civil War Portrait Photography at the Rich Mountain Symposium

I was honored to attend and represent Civil War portrait photography in all its forms—daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, cartes de visite, and other albumen prints—at the recent symposium, “Chronicling the Fight: Art & Photography of the Civil War,” presented by The Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation and Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, W. Va.

Cliff Krainik discusses the career and contributions of Mathew Brady. (Military Images)

Held near the historic Rich Mountain battlefield, the setting placed us squarely on ground tied to the 1861 Western Virginia Campaign—an early and decisive phase of the war that helped secure the region for the Union and set the stage for the creation of West Virginia. You students of the Civil War know the names associated with this campaign: George B. McClellan, whose success here helped launch his national reputation; William S. Rosecrans, whose flanking movement at Rich Mountain proved decisive; Lew Wallace, then early in his wartime service; and Robert E. Lee, whose struggles in the rugged terrain marked one of the few setbacks in his military career.

My sincere thanks to Rick Wolfe for the invitation and to the entire team at Davis & Elkins for their warm welcome and thoughtful hospitality. The setting, organization, and attention to detail made for an outstanding experience from start to finish.

The symposium itself was exceptionally well structured: four engaging presentations spaced comfortably throughout the day, a welcome lunch break that encouraged conversation, and a terrific panel discussion that brought all the speakers together for a lively and insightful exchange.

My fellow presenters inspired me: Rick Wolfe on “Photos and Stories of West Virginia Soldiers,” Hunter Lesser discussing “Artists at War: The First Campaign,” and the legendary Cliff Krainik sharing his knowledge about “The Incomparable Civil War Photographer, Mathew B. Brady.”

Last but not least, I very much appreciated the audience—curious, engaged, and asking thoughtful questions that elevated the discussion. The combination of venue, pacing, and participation created a comfortable atmosphere. I left energized!

For more about the Rich Mountain Battlefield and its history, visit: https://beverlyheritagecenter.org/rich-mountain-battlefield/

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Calling for Images of Gettysburg’s Seminary Hospital Patients

I’m delighted to announce that Military Images magazine is partnering with Gettysburg’s Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center on a new exhibit featuring soldiers who were treated at, or worked in, the Seminary Hospital in the aftermath of the battle.

We are looking to make digital copies of original, identified ambrotypes, tintypes, cartes de visite or other albumen prints of soldiers associated with the Seminary Hospital that will be featured in the exhibit. And we’re reaching out to the collecting community to assist our efforts.

The museum has compiled a database of almost 500 soldiers who were either patients, surgeons, or attendants at the hospital—and this database is available for searching. Tip: You’ll find two tabs at the bottom, alphabetically by last name, and by state and regiment:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1khmnz3fBe3AcxoIlh8FrpRfJgUm9XZRWk-Rxs-uffEQ/edit?usp=sharing

If you have an original wartime portrait of one of these soldiers and would like to share it for possible inclusion in the exhibit, please contact:

Paul Russinoff: prussinoff@aol.com
Ron Coddington: militaryimages@gmail.com

You can also leave a comment below.

Gettysburg’s Lutheran Seminary is arguably one of the most important buildings connected with the battle. Its landmark cupola was critical to both Union and Confederate forces in assessing enemy troop locations. Within its walls, hundreds of Union and Confederate soldiers were treated for serious wounds, and many died. After an extensive restoration, the Seminary Museum opened in 2013 and houses four floors of exhibits tracing its role in the battle and exploring the question of what brought armies of Americans to this Pennsylvania town in 1863.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Paul and Ron

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Tour Arlington National Cemetery’s Civil War History on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 1 P.M.

Join us for a free tour of key Civil War sections at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, March 9, 2024, rain or shine. We’ll meet at the Visitor Center entrance at 1 p.m. for a 2.5-hour walking tour of Sections 1 and 2, and around Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial. 

Leading our tour is Jim Garrett, senior guide and trainer for Unscripted Tours. Jim led us on a Lincoln assassination tour last year, and two years ago, different sections of Arlington. 

If you are in town for the D.C. Antique Photo, Postcard & Civil War Show (Sunday, March 8), in the D.C. area, or plan on visiting the city, join us! For you show-goers, we’ll finish the tour with plenty of time for you to grab dinner and visit dealer rooms the evening before the show.

From our guide, Jim: “Plan on 2 1/2 miles of walking. We’ll see lots of unexpected sites. Our Arlington tour is rated by Viator as one of the top 20 tours (of all kinds of tours, food, white water, ghost, etc.) in America!”

For more information and questions, please contact Ron Coddington at militaryimages@gmail.com, Facebook message or text/voice at 703-568-1616.

Hope you can join us! I look forward to seeing you in person on the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.

—Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher

Photo credits: Library of Congress, National Portrait Gallery

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Civil War Nurses Exhibit Opens at Carnegie Free Library

On February 14, 2026, the traveling exhibit Faces of Civil War Nurses opened to a warm welcome at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie, Pa., just outside Pittsburgh.

Presented in partnership by Military Images and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, the exhibit features 20 life-size portraits of women who served as nurses during the Civil War—bringing viewers face-to-face with the caregivers who tended the wounded and dying in hospitals, camps, and on the battlefield.

The Carnegie installation marks the second stop for the exhibition following its premiere at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office in Washington, D.C.

Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall .

A Record-Setting Opening

The Valentine’s Day opening program exceeded expectations in every way.

According to program coordinator Jon-Erik Gilot, the event set an attendance record for the library’s long-running Second Saturday Civil War Series, which began in 2014.

Coddington, left, with Jon-Erik Gilot.

The audience reflected the library’s broad educational mission. While many were Civil War enthusiasts, others came simply out of curiosity and a love of lifelong learning. Despite limited parking and a busy weekend, the room filled quickly, and late arrivals continued to stream in after the program began.

Bringing the Nurses to Life

The opening presentation explored the stories behind the images and the larger effort to identify, research, and interpret the visual record of Civil War nurses. The strong turnout—and the many thoughtful comments afterward—underscored the growing public interest in the human side of Civil War photography.

As Gilot noted, the program “set a high bar not just for attendance, but for content and quality,” and the enthusiastic response highlighted the power of portrait photography to connect modern audiences with the past.

Continuing the Journey

Faces of Civil War Nurses continues its run in Carnegie through May 9, offering visitors a rare opportunity to encounter these women at full scale and learn about their service and sacrifice.

The success of the opening affirms the exhibit’s mission: to honor the caregivers of the Civil War and to share their stories with communities across the country.

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Adams County Library Joins the Military Images Education Program

Delighted to share exciting news from the Military Images community: Adams County Library has become the 58th participant in our Civil War History Education Program, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of Michele Behan.

Huzzah!

Michele, an avid image collector with a deep passion for research, documentation, and sharing knowledge, has long been an outstanding member of the collecting community. Her commitment to supporting public history—and the historians, librarians, archivists, educators, and frontline interpreters who sustain it—is inspiring. Her sponsorship enables Adams County Library to receive complimentary subscriptions to Military Images, ensuring that patrons and staff have access to high-quality visual resources that illuminate the people and stories of the Civil War.

You can see and learn about one of Michele’s images—a unique view by Mathew Brady of an injured officer and another officer—in the Stragglers section of our Winter 2026 issue.

About Adams County Library

Located in the heart of historic Pennsylvania, Adams County Library has long been a resource for researchers exploring the region’s rich Civil War heritage. We’re honored to welcome them into the program and look forward to supporting their mission of preserving and sharing history.

About the MI Education Program

The Kenneth J. Bertholf Jr. Civil War History Education Program was created to provide access to Military Images content for institutions and individuals connected to Civil War history. These include museums, libraries, battlefield staff, tour guides, educators, and independent scholars. Each subscription puts trustworthy visual scholarship in the hands of those who interpret the past for the public today.

This work is possible entirely through the generosity of our subscribers and other supporters. If you would like to help expand access and bring more institutions into the program, please consider making a contribution.