Research

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of a dozen black and white photographs of service medals and a few brief textual summaries on marksmanship badges, describing their significance and history. The summaries were apparently copies from published Adjutant General's reports or other unidentified sources. The photographs may date from the 1940s and 1950s. The purpose for which the material was gathered is not known, but may pertain to captioning exhibit material or otherwise researching military accoutrements, perhaps for annual reports or other publications.

Medals represented in the photographs are examples of those awarded to National Guardsmen (ca. 1876), to veterans of the Mexican Punitive Campaign, and to survivors of Southern prison camps during the Civil War. The photographs measure 8" x 10" and they are neither attributed nor captioned. There are some duplicate prints. Images include the following: medals for Mexican Border Service, 1916-1917, from the State of New York; medal "To One Who Served the Nation with Honor 1898, 1899, 1900 awarded by the State of New York"; recto and verso views of a Civil War medal to "Survivor of Southern Military Prisons 1861-1865"; marksman's sharpshooter badge (ca. 1876?); conspicuous service badge (undated); and a portrait (in full dress uniform) of Corporal August Shade, Co. K 25th Infantry, New York National Guard, Albany, New York, 1872-1879.