The Quartermaster Museum archives hold a two-volume set containing 45 original photos showcasing Union Army uniforms from the Civil War. In 1865, Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs ordered that a clothing museum be established at Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia to capture the wide variety of uniforms used during the Civil War. Captain Henry W. Janes took responsibility for this project and began accumulating dozens of uniforms to showcase at the arsenal by 1866. Capt. Janes then requested permission to have photographs made of the current uniforms of the U.S. Army, and commissioned photographer Oliver H. Willard to capture these images. Capt. Janes himself stood in as the model for the entire series shot at the studio, wearing a wide array of clothing and equipment. These images were produced as albumen silver prints from glass negatives and then meticulously hand colored. One set of photos were framed for use in the museum, while another 4 sets were created in leather bound volumes. To the best of our knowledge, the Quartermaster Museum’s volumes contain the only surviving complete set of these photos, and it is our pleasure to provide them for the public as we strive to increase knowledge of the Quartermaster Corps.

Each photo has the option to download a jpg (will open in a new window) or a tif (will automatically download). For related information on uniforms and equipment from the 1865 Quartermaster Guide, see Chapter XVIII “Clothing, Camp and Garrison Equipage” by Col. Theo S. Case, Quartermaster General of Missouri.