Archives Center, National Museum of American History
W. L. Armstrong Washingtoniana Glass Negative Collection
Minor, Frank (photographer)
Armstrong, W. L., Mrs.
NMAH.AC.0183
Archival Resource Key
1 Cubic foot
2 boxes
1865-1885
Glass plate negatives of views of Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia.
English
.
W. L. Armstrong Washingtoniana Glass Negative Collection: 1865-1885.
W. L. Armstrong Washingtoniana Glass Negative Collection: 1865-1885
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated by Mrs. W. L. Armstrong, February 3, 1986.
Biographical / Historical
Photographer(s) and circumstances of creation unknown.
Preferred Citation
W. L. Armstrong Washingtoniana Glass Negative Collection, 1865-1885, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Processing Information
Collection processed by NMAH Staff, undated
Collection digitized by Noah Stewart, digital imaging technician, 2021.
Custodial History
The donor was given the plates by Frank Minor [Miner?], the uncle of a friend, Mrs. Whitney Aitchen of Laurel, Md. Minor had obtained the plates from an unidentified friend who knew of his photographic interests; apparently they had been in his possession for some years before he gave them to Mrs. Armstrong, for she noted that he was unable to print them "by that time" due to failing eyesight.
Scope and Contents
11 8" x 10" and 10 4" x 5" glass photonegatives, some marked "1885", one marked "1865" and "Libby Prison"), but most seem from ca. 1885; silver gelatin except two silver collodion plates, one of which bears the "1865." The large plates were stored in a nineteenth-century wooden, grooved plate box (now stored separately). Images depict buildings and sites in Washington, D.C., including: aerial or bird's-eye views possibly taken from the (unfinished?) Washington Monument; the Manassas Panorama building with the completed (capped) Monument visible in the background; Washington street scenes, especially Pennsylvania Avenue; the Smithsonian castle; the U.S. Capitol; the White House; and dredging operations to create Hains Point.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Existence and Location of Copies
Collection scanned in 2021.
Streets -- Washington (D.C.)
United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.) -- 1880-1890
Washington D.C. -- photographs -- 1860-1890
Washington Monument (Washington, D.C.) -- 1880-1890
Waterfronts -- Washington (D.C.)
Wet collodion negatives
White House (Washington, D.C.)
Hains Point (Washington, D.C.) -- 1880-1980
Dredging -- 1880-1890 -- Washington (D.C.)
Cycloramas -- 1880-1890
Cities and towns -- 1880-1890
Capitols -- 1880-1890
Buildings -- 1880-1890 -- Washington (D.C.)
Architecture -- 1880-1890 -- Washington (D.C.)
Aerial views -- 1880-1890 -- Washington (D.C.)
Photographs -- Black-and-white negatives -- Glass -- Collodion -- 19th century
Libby Prison -- 1880-1890
Manassas (Va.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Paintings -- 1880-1890
Panoramas -- 1880-1890
Smithsonian Institution -- 1880-1890
8" x 10" negatives, silver gelatin unless identified as collodion
Archival Resource Key
Libby Prison / Richmond / 1865 (on negative), with soldiers and tents in foreground, prison building in background. Collodion, but copied from another photograph. Sky area opaqued; left edge ragged and broken. SI neg. no. 86 353.
Archival Resource Key
1
1
Libby Prison / Richmond / 1865 (on negative), with soldiers and tents in foreground, prison building in background. Collodion, but copied from another photograph. Sky area opaqued; left edge ragged and broken. SI neg. no. 86 353.
Libby Prison [glass plate negative]
Archival Resource Key
Armstrong, W. L., Mrs.
1 Item
Silver gelatin on glass.
8.0" x 10.1"
1865
English.
1
1
Libby Prison [glass plate negative].
Local Numbers
AC0183-0000001.tif (AC Scan No.)
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Glass plates must be handled with cotton gloves.
Scope and Contents
Confederate prison in Richmond, Virginia. Small group of men and soldiers standing amid six tents in foreground. Glass plate is slightly chipped around the edge.
Tents
Soldiers -- Civil War
Civil War, 1861-1865
Prisons
Prisoners of war
Virginia -- 19th century
Richmond (Va.)
Confederate States of America
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Photographs -- 1860-1870 -- Black-and-white negatives -- Glass
Libby Prison
Smithsonian Institution "castle" building, exterior. #86 347.
Archival Resource Key
1
2
Smithsonian Institution "castle" building, exterior. #86 347.
Manassas Panorama building with Washington Monument in background. Sign on building: "BATTLE OF MANASSAS OR SECOND BULL RUN." "1885" on plate. #86 345.
Archival Resource Key
1
3
Manassas Panorama building with Washington Monument in background. Sign on building: "BATTLE OF MANASSAS OR SECOND BULL RUN." "1885" on plate. #86 345.
[Battle of Manassas or Second Bull Run panorama or cyclorama building with Washington Monument in the background: b & w photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Armstrong, W. L., Mrs.
1 Item
7.9" x 9.9"
1885
English.
W. L. Armstrong Washingtoniana Glass Negative Collection: 1865-1885
Local Numbers
AC0183-0000002 (AC Scan No.)
86-345 (OPS neg. no.)
Medium
Silver gelatin on paper.
Arrangement
In collection control file.
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves.
Scope and Contents
Building was located on National Mall in Washington, DC. Scanned from copy print. Original is glass plate negative.
Manassas Panorama -- Washington (D.C.) -- 1880-1890
Cycloramas
Photographs -- 1860-1870 -- Black-and-white negatives -- Glass
Manassas (Va.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Copy of painting of Civil War cavalry battle, probably from Panorama above. Plate broken and taped together. #86 348.
Archival Resource Key
1
4
Copy of painting of Civil War cavalry battle, probably from Panorama above. Plate broken and taped together. #86 348.
Collodion copy of painting of men rowing boat with U.S. flag. #86 346.
Archival Resource Key
1
5
Collodion copy of painting of men rowing boat with U.S. flag. #86 346.
Bridge (possibly Chain Bridge?). Emulsion varnished, poor condition. #86 351.
Archival Resource Key
1
6
Bridge (possibly Chain Bridge?). Emulsion varnished, poor condition. #86 351.
U.S. Capitol. #86 354.
Archival Resource Key
1
7
U.S. Capitol. #86 354.
Aerial view of river, negative marked 1885. Shows dredging operations underway to create parkland named after the supervising engineer, Maj. Gen. Peter C. Hains. Photograph reproduced in: Douglas E. Evelyn and Paul Dickson, On This Spot: Pinpointing the Past in Washington, D.C. (Washington, D.C.: Farragut Publishing Co., 1992), pp. 92-93. #86 350.
Archival Resource Key
1
8
Aerial view of river, negative marked 1885. Shows dredging operations underway to create parkland named after the supervising engineer, Maj. Gen. Peter C. Hains. Photograph reproduced in: Douglas E. Evelyn and Paul Dickson, On This Spot: Pinpointing the Past in Washington, D.C. (Washington, D.C.: Farragut Publishing Co., 1992), pp. 92-93. #86 350.
Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol, showing Fitch, Fox, & Brown and Solari's Hotel, with horse drawn trolley. Plate marked "Penn./Ave./1885." #86 349.
Archival Resource Key
1
9
Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol, showing Fitch, Fox, & Brown and Solari's Hotel, with horse drawn trolley. Plate marked "Penn./Ave./1885." #86 349.
Aerial view, showing Smithsonian Castle, Arts and Industries Building, and the Capitol. #86 344.
Archival Resource Key
1
10
Aerial view, showing Smithsonian Castle, Arts and Industries Building, and the Capitol. #86 344.
Aerial view, including river. Negative marked 1885. #86 352.
Archival Resource Key
1
11
Aerial view, including river. Negative marked 1885. #86 352.
4" x 5" negatives, all silver gelatin
Archival Resource Key
Street scene. #86 342.
Archival Resource Key
2
12
Street scene. #86 342.
Pennsylvania Avenue, looking toward Capitol, with crowd. Similar to no. 9. #86 343.
Archival Resource Key
2
13
Pennsylvania Avenue, looking toward Capitol, with crowd. Similar to no. 9. #86 343.
U.S. Capitol. #86 335.
Archival Resource Key
2
14
U.S. Capitol. #86 335.
Aerial view, with U.S. Capitol in distance. #86 334.
Archival Resource Key
2
15
Aerial view, with U.S. Capitol in distance. #86 334.
Aerial view. #86 336. Plate broken.
Archival Resource Key
2
16
Aerial view. #86 336. Plate broken.
Aerial view, with standing man in foreground. #86 337.
Archival Resource Key
2
17
Aerial view, with standing man in foreground. #86 337.
Aerial view. #86 338.
Archival Resource Key
2
18
Aerial view. #86 338.
Aerial view (taken from Washington Monument?) toward Capitol. #86 339.
Archival Resource Key
2
19
Aerial view (taken from Washington Monument?) toward Capitol. #86 339.
Aerial view, showing Ellipse and White House. #86 340.
Archival Resource Key
2
20
Aerial view, showing Ellipse and White House. #86 340.
Aerial view. #86 341.
Archival Resource Key
2
21
Aerial view. #86 341.
Artifact, original wooden plate box
Archival Resource Key
3