Tag: military images magazine

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Faces of Freedom Debuts at Camp Nelson National Monument

Our traveling exhibit, Faces of Freedom, made its Kentucky debut at Camp Nelson National Monument as part of the park’s 160th-anniversary commemoration, “A Portal into the Past: Camp Nelson, Photography, and the End of the Civil War.” We’re honored to partner with the National Park Service and the Camp Nelson team to bring these powerful stories to a site where freedom was claimed and defended.

The exhibition features 37 high-quality prints made from original Civil War portraits in public and private collections. Each portrait is paired with a short biographical sketch that introduces the individual’s wartime service and life beyond the uniform. The images focus on Black soldiers and sailors who served in the U.S. Colored Troops and the U.S. Navy, putting names and stories to faces that shaped the Union war effort and the meaning of citizenship. Some of the men pictured and profiled went on to become Buffalo soldiers. A digital exhibit catalog includes the images and stories.

The National Park Service team, led by Superintendent Ernie Price and Steve Phan, Chief of Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services, collaborated with facilities staff to build wonderful displays to showcase the exhibit.

Leaders and speakers at the recent Camp Nelson 160th, from left to right: Steve T. Phan, Ron Coddington, Stephen McBride, Brian Mabelitini and Ernie Price. Photo by Ranger Ava Goetz.

Camp Nelson is the ideal place for this chapter of the exhibit’s journey. Established by the U.S. Army in 1863 as a major supply base, the site evolved into one of the nation’s largest recruitment and training centers for United States Colored Troops—and a refuge center for their families. More than 10,000 formerly enslaved men became soldiers here in 1864–65, and the camp’s story illuminates both the hardships and the hope bound up in emancipation for freedom seekers.

This stop at Camp Nelson marks the fifth venue for Faces of Freedom. Earlier installations included the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum in Ashtabula, Ohio, the Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum in York, Pa., Manassas National Military Park, and the Lincoln Depot Museum in Peekskill, N.Y., each welcoming visitors to encounter these portraits up close.

Photo by Military Images.

Faces of Freedom is produced by Military Images, the only magazine devoted exclusively to Civil War portrait photography. The exhibit is part of our broader mission to showcase, interpret and preserve these historic images—and to meet people where they are in physical and virtual communities.

We’re grateful to the National Park Service and to the many collectors, families, and institutions who have helped surface, preserve, and share these histories. If your museum, archive, or historic site is interested in hosting the exhibit, please get in touch! Email Editor and Publisher Ronald S. Coddington.

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Life-Sized Tribute: New Traveling Exhibit Brings Civil War Nurses Into Focus

We are thrilled to share that the opening of Faces of Civil War Nurses at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum on May 24 drew an enthusiastic and engaged crowd. This unique traveling exhibition, on view through September 1, 2025, shines a light on the remarkable women who stepped beyond the boundaries of traditional life to care for soldiers during the Civil War.

The exhibit is a collaboration between the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, which operates the Clara Barton Museum, and Military Images magazine. Military Images—the only publication solely dedicated to showcasing, interpreting, and preserving Civil War portrait photography—curated this collection of life-sized images and stories. The foundation for much of this work can be found in the book Faces of Civil War Nurses, authored by Military Images editor and publisher Ronald S. Coddington and published by Johns Hopkins University Press.

The exhibit brings together powerful photographic portraits and vivid biographies that highlight the courage, compassion, and moral strength of these caregivers. The original images, once cherished as keepsakes or carried in the pockets of soldiers, now offer us rare opportunities to connect with the enduring legacy of Civil War nurses.

Visitors to the opening explored the stories of women like Helen Gilson, who defied prejudice to care for U.S. Colored Troops at City Point, Va.; “Captain” Sally Tompkins, who ran one of the South’s most efficient hospitals; and Harriet Tubman, whose fearless work as a nurse, scout, and spy contributed immeasurably to the Union cause.

Through Faces of Civil War Nurses, both the exhibit and the book invite us to look beyond the well-known figures and discover the breadth of contributions made by women from all walks of life. These portraits and narratives remind us of the sacrifices and service that helped define a nation at war—and the caregiving spirit that endures to this day.

A special thanks to David Price, Executive Director at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine; Dana Shoaf, Director of Interpretation; Melissa Winn, Director of Marketing and Communications; and Carolyn Ivanoff, author for Gettysburg Publishing, who portrayed Clara Barton at the opening.

Want to bring this exhibit to your location? Contact Ron Coddington, Editor & Publisher of Military Images magazine.

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Faces of Freedom Exhibit Opens at Lincoln Depot Museum

Peekskill, NY — June 7, 2025

Military Images officially launched its traveling exhibit, Faces of Freedom: African American Faces of the Civil War Era, today at the historic Lincoln Depot Museum—just as a steady rain tapped against the roof of the 19th-century depot. Inside, the energy was high and the room full, as a packed house gathered to mark the opening.

Ron Coddington, editor and publisher of Military Images, delivered a wide-ranging presentation that set the stage for the exhibit. He traced the project’s development and explored the evolution of photography during the Civil War era. A “By the Numbers” section offered compelling data points, while detailed diagrams mapped the journeys of Black men from 1861 through the postwar years, culminating in the formation of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Coddington also addressed the evolution of terminology—from “Contraband” to “Freedmen” to “United States Colored Troops (USCT)”—and shared powerful, firsthand quotes from the soldiers themselves. Audience questions were both plentiful and insightful, underscoring the impact and importance of the stories on display.

Military Images extends a heartfelt thanks to Michael and Gail Bennett and all the volunteers at the Lincoln Depot Museum for their generous support and hospitality.

If you missed today’s event, don’t worry—the exhibit runs through July 12, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to experience this compelling visual and historical narrative.

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Cover Image To Be Used in Civil War Trails Guide

The use of Civil War photographic portraits to aid in the interpretation of battlefields and other historic sites is part of the larger mission of Military Images magazine. Recently, Terry Heder, Historian/Editor of Civil War Trails. reached out to request permission to feature the image that graced the cover of our Winter 2020 issue.

It pictures two brothers in uniform, one Union and the other Confederate. Edward A. Fowlkes, a Mexican War veteran, served in the Union 12th Tennessee Cavalry. He is pictured here, seated on the left, as a first lieutenant, a rank he earned in May 1865. Next to him sits brother Gabriel, or Gabe, who served in the Confederate 11th Tennessee Infantry. You can read their story here.

Heder noted in his request, “We’re creating an updated map guide for Civil War Trails interpretive sites in Tennessee, and the guide will include narrative sections about different aspects of the war. We’d like to use the image of the Fowlkes brothers in the introductory section, “Torn in Two,” that discusses how the war divided the people of the state.”

Civil War Trails began working with communities in 1994 “to share their stories and connect visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states. Travelers look to Trails to put them in the footsteps of the generals, soldiers, citizens, and the enslaved who found themselves in the midst of this Civil War.”

The owner of the Fowlkes brothers image, Gary Waddey, graciously gave permission to Civil War Trails.

Military Images is excited to play a role in connecting organizations and collectors to humanize history.

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Faces of Freedom Exhibit Travels to Manassas

Our traveling exhibit, Faces of Freedom, is coming to Manassas National Military Park. The exhibit will be on display at the Visitor Center from September 2 through November 1, 2024.

Established in 2019, the exhibit first appeared at the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum in Ashtabula, Ohio. Covid paused our travels until 2024, when the exhibit moved to the Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum in York, Pa.

The exhibit features 37 high-quality prints of wartime portraits of Black men who served in the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) and Navy during the Civil War. Each portrait is accompanied by a biographical sketch detailing their wartime experiences. This is a unique opportunity to honor and learn about these brave individuals, some who sacrificed their lives to make a more perfect union and others who went on to become Buffalo Soldiers.

This exhibit is made possible by Military Images. Editor and Publisher Ron Coddington observes, “This is another wonderful opportunity to share portraits and stories, and our history, with visitors to the hallowed grounds of the First and Second Battles of Bull Run.”

The images are from private collectors and public institutions.

These individuals shared images from their collections for inclusion in this exhibit: Jonathan Beasley, David E. Brown, Kevin Canberg, Glen Cangelosi, Ronald S. Coddington, Greg French, Thomas Harris, Ross Kelbaugh, C. Paul Loane, Steve Meadow, Ronn Palm, and Paul Russinoff.

Images from public institutions include the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University; The Lawrence T. Jones III Collection at DeGloyer Library, Southern Methodist University; Gettysburg National Military Park Museum; Kansas State Historical Society; The Liljenquist Family Collection at the Library of Congress; National Archives; West Virginia and Regional History Collection, West Virginia University Libraries; and the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Robert W. Woodruff Library, Emory University.

Interested in bringing Faces of Freedom to your location? Fill out this form.

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Live From Charleston!

02One of the most-repeated responses from last summer’s subscriber survey was to have Military Images represented at Civil War shows. This request came from long-time subscribers who remember the days when founding editor Harry Roach set up a table, gave away copies of the magazine, and photographed images from dealers and attendees.

Now, Military Images is back! This weekend, Anne and I attended the Low Country Civil War Show in Charleston, S.C. Following Harry’s lead, we gave away complimentary copies of the latest issue, and set up a scanner to make high-resolution scans of selected images.

We had a wonderful time. The show provided us an opportunity to meet up and thank current subscribers, to welcome returning and new subscribers, and to let everyone know that MI’s mission to showcase, interpret and preserve historic photographs of soldiers and sailors is as important as ever.

01The support we received throughout was wonderful! Cliff Krainik and George Whiteley shared their thoughts and ideas abut the editorial direction of the magazine. Steve Sylvia of North South Trader’s Civil War magazine was super supportive and generously offered his help. Had productive chats with Cary Delery, Richard Ferry and a large group of others.

A heartfelt hanks to each and everyone I met for your enthusiasm and generosity. It fueled my desire to breathe new life into Military Images. The biggest thanks are reserved for Anne, who spent the majority of the show strolling up and down the aisles meeting and greeting folks on both sides of the table. She was absolutely fantastic, and MI is much better for her presence.

Look for Military Images at the DC Photo Show on March 16.