This collection consists of ninety-nine Civil War era carte de visite photographs showing men of Company E, 16th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. The entire regiment is not represented and the men in the collection are predominantly those who enlisted earliest. Carte de visite (CDV) photographs are roughly two and one-half inches by four inches, about the size of a business card, and were very popular around the time of the Civil War. Many soldiers had their picture taken before going off to serve in the war and sent CDVs to their family and friends.
The CDVs in this collection consist of a card stock backing that has a golden border around the edge on the front and the photographers name, Samuel T. Young, typed on the back. An oval-shaped bust view photograph of each man that appears to have been cut from a larger photograph is pasted to the front of the card. Each man is also identified with handwritten names on the front of the card. Some CDVs have blue stamped names on the back. The back of many CDVs includes handwritten notes giving details about wounds received in service and if the soldiers was killed in action.
The men themselves are all dressed in Wisconsin state issue sackcoats and are hatless. They range in age, complexion, hair color and style, and facial hair or lack thereof. This variation shows that wide range of men who enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War.
There is also one unidentified CDV in this collection. It differs from the others in that the backing is smaller and the photograph shows the man from head to waist. He is wearing a similar coat along with a hat.
