George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library, MS2FLEron Ackerman
There are no restrictions.
Collection is open to research.
Northern Virginia Civil War images collection, Collection #C0150, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.
Purchased by Special Collections and Archives in 1997-2005 from Prints Old and Rare.
Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty. EAD updated by Greta Kuriger in July 2011.
The Illustrated London News was one of the first newspapers to employ wood engravings on a wide scale. One of its artists was Frank Vizetelly (1830-1883); he covered the Civil War for British readers. Early on, he illustrated the war from the Union side but was later allowed to draw from the Confederate side. Artists like Vizetelly sometimes did more than draw, though. He acted as a messenger for Confederate General James Longstreet at the battle of Chickamauga. Vizetelly was also a staff aide for the Confederates at the battle of Fredericksburg and was present at Charleston, South Carolina, when it was besieged. Because of such personal involvement by artists, many engravings were not made by detached observers, but by active participants in history unfolding.
Frank Leslie (1821-1880) was another artist who began his career as an engraver in 1842 and eventually published his own newspaper, which he titled, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. The newspaper also covered the Civil War. Leslie used a large number of illustrations in his newspaper to increase circulation. Images from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper are well represented in Northern Virginia Images Collection, including several images from the German language edition of the newspaper.
Another popular periodical of the time was Harper's Weekly. It first appeared in 1857 and became one of the most important and influential periodicals in nineteenth century America, notably during the Civil War. Two prominent artists for Harper's Weekly during this period were Alfred Waud (1828-1891) and Thomas Nast (1840-1902). Engravings by both are included in Northern Virginia Images Collection. Waud was primarily assigned to the eastern front and covered the war from the Battle of First Manassas to the Confederacy's surrender at Appomattox Court House. Thomas Nast (who later became famous for creating the roly- poly figure in red we now know as Santa Claus) worked largely in New York for most of the war. One of the major exceptions to this was when he spent time in the Union camp during the Battle of Gettysburg. Nast's sympathies were for the Union side, which, naturally, bothered Southerners, who often sent threatening letters to Nast at the Harper's Weekly office. By and large, The Illustrated London News, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, and Harper's Weekly illustrated the Civil War from the Northern point-of-view.
Many of today's Northern Virginia residents only know the area as a population outgrowth of Washington, D.C. Despite this cosmopolitan reputation, it was largely farm country at the time of the Civil War through World War II. Few realize that the area was the frequent battleground for large contending forces. Yet, many of the areas that are depicted in the images still exist today but under much different circumstances. Some of the areas included in these images have undergone radical cultural changes as well. An Islamic Mosque now occupies Munson Hill, which Confederate forces occupied under General J.E.B. Stuart during early days of the war.
The collection consists of nearly 200 images on various historical subjects in a variety of formats, including wood engravings, steel engravings, lithographs, chromolithographs, maps, and manuscripts. Most of the images depict battles and maps of the Civil War. The maps include the cities of Arlington and Alexandria and the counties of Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William. Columbia Pike, Chain Bridge, Long Bridge, the Little River Turnpike, Centreville and Manassas all existed at the time of the Civil War and all of them are represented or referenced in these images.
Most of the Civil War images are from three periodicals: The Illustrated London News, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, and Harper's Weekly. They are primarily wood engravings, several of which are hand colored. Though wood engraving was invented as an illustrative technique in the 1790s, it was the later appearance of the mass illustrated newspaper that took advantage of the technique to appeal to a wide readership.
Although pictorial images comprise the majority of images in the collection, there are also numerous maps, most of which were produced by lithography. A number were produced for military purposes and employed by both the North and South alike. Maps made during the Civil War were often exceedingly accurate; their usefulness carried on into the twentieth century.
This collection is arranged by locality of primary image.
Special Collections and Archives also holds the Alexander Haight family collection, the Milton Barnes papers, and the WRLC digital collection Virginia Civil War Archive. The digital version of Harper's Weekly is available for GMU affiliated researchers.
The Pictorial Battles of the Civil War
Harper's Weekly
The Soldier in Our Civil War
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
by Charles Magnus
The Illustrated London News
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
The Civil War in the United States
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
The Illustrated London News
Harper's Weekly
Journal Article with Print Reproductions
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
by A. Waud; Pictorial Battles of the Civil War
by A. Waud; Pictorial Battles of the Civil War
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
The Illustrated London News
by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce; City Brochure with Photographs and Map
The Soldier in our Civil War
The Illustrated London News
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XL - Vol. VII
The Soldier in Our Civil War
by Charles Graham; Harper's Weekly
by Bell; Harper's Weekly
by Bell; Harper's Weekly
by Bell; Harper's Weekly
by Bell; Harper's Weekly
by Bell; Harper's Weekly
by National Photo Co.
Picturesque Washington
by Bell; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Published by The Gray Line Sight Seeing Tours
Published by B. S. Reynolds Co.
Published by the Post Exchange, Fort Myer, VA.
Pictorial History of the War of 1861
Pictorial History of the War of 1861
The Civil War in the United States
Harper's Weekly
by A. Waud; The New-York Illustrated News
Harper's Weekly
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News
By J. Becker; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News
by Mr. Forbes; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [same image as 7.8 in folder 9]
Pictorial History of the War of 1861 [same image as 7.7 in folder 9]
by Edwin Forbes; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War
Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War
Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War
Same image as 20.9 in folder 10
by Edwin Forbes; The Soldier in Our Civil War
Same image as 3.4 in folder 10
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
By A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
The Civil War in the United States
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. Mead; Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
On the Shenandoah and the Chickahominy
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News, 2 prints
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News
Pictorial Battles of the Civil War
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
The Youths' History of he United States
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Pictorial History of the War of 1861
by Edwin Forbes
The Soldier in Our Civil War
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Harper's Weekly
The Illustrated London News
by W. Peters; Harper's Weekly
Pictorial War Record
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
by T.R. Davis; Harper's Weekly
by H. Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War
by Walter A. Lane; The Soldier in Our Civil War
by Henry Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War
by H. Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War
The Soldier in Our Civil War
Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 3.12 in folder 18]
The Illustrated London News
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 3.10 in folder 18]
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly [same image as 20.6 in folder 20]
Harper's Weekly [same image as 20.5 in folder 20]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Loudon County
Harper's Weekly
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News
Harper's Weekly [Same as image 2.21B and 2.21C in folder 26]
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.20A in folder 26]
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
The Illustrated London News
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
The Soldier in Our Civil War [Same image as 2.32A in folder 26]
The Soldier in our Civil War [Same image as 2.32B in folder 26]
by Edwin Forbes; The Soldier in Our Civil War
The Soldier in Our Civil War
Harper's History of the Great Rebellion
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
by Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States
by Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.31 in folder 26]
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
by Allen C. Redwood; Journal Article with Print Reproductions
by John Pope; Journal Article with Print Reproductions
by W. Momberger and J. C. McRae; Abbotts Civil War
by Penfield
by Mr. Edwin Forbes
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
by Mr. Davenport; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.34 in folder 26]
The Illustrated London News
by Penfield; Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
by F. O. C. Darley and W. Ridgway
by P. Meeder
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
by Edwin Forbes; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.12A in folder 26]
The Soldier in Our Civil War [Same image as 2.2A in folder 26]
The Soldier in our Civil War [Same image as 2.2B in folder 26]
Harper's Weekly
by Mr. Davenport; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.22 in folder 26]
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.5A in folder 26]
By Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States
by Currier and Ives
by Fisk and Russell; History of the Great Rebellion
The Civil War
Civil War in America/ War and Its Horrors
by M. D. McAlester
by Julius Bien and Co.
History of the Great Rebellion
Civil War in America, War and Its Horrors
by Capt. W. Angelo Powell
Harper's History of the Great Rebellion
by P. W. O. Koerner
by Maj. N. Michler
Harper's Weekly
by Andrew B. Graham Photo-Litho
by Rand McNally and Co.; Commercial Atlas
Rand McNally
Rand McNally
by the Geological Survey; U.S. Geological Survey
by the Geological Survey; U.S. Geological Survey
American Automobile Association
by L. L. Poates
History of the United States
Operations in Northeastern Virginia
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Harper's History of the Great Rebellion
by J. J. Young and W. Hesselbach; Surveys for Military Defenses, Sheet 1
by J. J. Young and W. Hesselbach; Surveys for Military Defenses, Sheet 2
by J. J. Young and W. Hesselbach; Surveys for Military Defenses, Sheet 2
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Eng. 2d Corps
Top Eng. 2d Corps
Top Engr. V.D.
Top Eng. V.D.
Top Eng. V.D.
Top Eng. A.V.D.
Top Eng. A.V.D.
Top Eng. A.V.D.
Top Engr. V.D.
by J. J. Young
by W. G. Atkinson
by Brig. Gen. D.P. Woodbury
by Brig. Gen. G.K. Warren
by Capt. W. Angelo Powell
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
Julius Bien and Co.
by John Pilsen; Julius Bien and Co.
by Franz Kappner; Julius Bien and Co.
by the geological Survey; U.S. Geological Survey
by the Geological Survey; U.S. Geological Survey
by the Geological Survey; U.S. Geological Survey
by A. Maedel, H. S. Barnard and A. Peterson; Survey of the Coast of the United States, Coast Survey Office
The Civil War
by Waters-Son N.Y.
by G. Woolworth Oolton N.Y.
by William J. Wilson
by Charles Magnus
by Fisk and Russell N.Y.
The Soldier in Our Civil War
Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War
By Walker & Boutall
Harper's History of the Great Rebellion
Newspaper
The Illustrated London News
by Mr. Anton Kellner; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. Davenport; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
The New-York Illustrated News
by J. E. Taylor; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
by J. E. Taylor; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War
by J. Lansing and R. P. Johnson; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
by James Lansing; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
by Col. Battersby; Harper's Weekly
by R. F. Zogbaum; Harper's Weekly
By Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States
By Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States [Same image as 20.39 in folder 33]
The Soldier in Our Civil War
by Edwin Forbes; The Soldier in Our Civil War
by Edwin Forbes; The Soldier in Our Civil War
Ballou's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion
Harpers Weekly
Ballou's Pictorial
The Soldier in our Civil War
The Illustrated London News [Same image as 20.12 in folder 33]
By Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States [Same image as 20.28 in folder 33]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
The Illustrated London News
Harper's Weekly
Pictorial Battles of the Civil War
Pictorial History of the War of 1861 [same image as 6.17A in folder 35]
Pictorial History of the War of 1861 [same image as 6.17B in folder 35]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [same image as 6.9A in folder 35]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [same image as 6.9B in folder 35]
Pictorial War Record
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [same image as 1.12]
The Illustrated London News [same image as 1.6 in folder 37]
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News [same image as 1.3 in folder 37]
The Illustrated London News [same image as 1.1 in folder 37]
The Illustrated London News [same image as unnumbered in folder 37]
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News [same image as unnumbered in folder 37]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Picturesque America
Picturesque America
The Illustrated London News [same image as unnumbered in folder 37]
by E. S. Hall; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Harper's Weekly
by Wm. L. Sheppard; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Harper's History of the Great Rebellion
Harper's History of the Great Rebellion
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [2 copies]
The New York Illustrated News
by A. R. Waud; Pictorial War Record
By A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
by A. R. Waud; The Pictorial Battles of the Civil War
by Johnson and Ward
by Julius Bien and Co.
by Johnson and Ward
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Top Engr. Office, V.D.
Engineer Department. U.S. Army
Engineer Department. U.S. Army
The Illustrated London News
by Mr. Davenport; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly [2 copies]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Charles Sholt [?]; Harper's Weekly
by H. Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War
by Gilbert Gaul; Harpers Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly
by H. Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War
The Soldier in Our Civil War
The Soldier in Our Civil War
The Confederate Soldier in the Civil War
[same image as 19.2A]
[same image as 19.2B]
The Civil War in the United States [same image as 19.1A]
The Civil War in the United States [same image as 19.1B]
By E. Forbes; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
by Sol Eytinge; Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly [same image as 15.4 in folder 46]
Harper's Weekly [same image as 15.3 in folder 46]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
By Mr. Theodore R. Davis; Harper's Weekly
The Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News
by E. F. Mullen; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Harper's Weekly
The Soldier in Our Civil War [same image as 5.7 in folder 48]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition][same image as 5.6 in folder 48]
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
The Soldier in Our Civil War
Harper's Weekly (supplement)
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
By Gen. Barnard; Defenses of Washington
By Gen. Barnard; Defenses of Washington
Cassell's Illustrated History of England
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly