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Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882 [Group of forty-six civilians and soldiers posed in front of government shops, Washington D.C.]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05111.01.0138 Author/Creator: Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Photograph Date: circa 1861-1865 Pagination: 1 albumen print Height: 23.5 cm, Width: 16.8 cm Order a Copy

A print of a photograph of a large group of civilians. The assemblage is posed in front of three long, white government shops. Most are probably workers employed in the buildings by the government. Black laborers wearing aprons and holding tools are on the far left of the image. A policeman stands eighth from the right. Washington became a major center for army services during the war. Numerous government repair shops [some massive in size] employing hundreds of skilled and unskilled workers were established to keep the armies running. Inscription on verso: "Gardner XXIX 858."

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