The Maryland National Guard and the Maryland Center for Military History are asking the public for help identifying the faces captured in a rare collection of Civil War-era tintypes that may be the only surviving set of photographs documenting an entire military company from the conflict.
What the collection is
The display, now housed at the Maryland Center for Military History in Ocean City, contains individual tintype portraits of every enlisted member of Company B, Second Regiment, Maryland Eastern Shore volunteers. Curators say the images were taken shortly after the men enlisted in Chestertown in 1861, and the full set was donated to the center in 1991.
Despite having a roster of names that corresponds to the photographs, staff members say they have been unable to match most names to faces. To date, only one soldier has been identified: 1st Sgt. Alfred Benjamin, who, because of his rank, occupies the most prominent position on the display.
Why officials want help now
Curators say the collection is historically significant both for Maryland and for Civil War scholarship. Officials believe it could be the only known surviving photographic record documenting every enlisted man in a single company from the war, giving an unusually complete visual record of a community’s wartime contribution.
"We need to put names to the people who have served us in the past and have helped develop into who we are today," Curator Alexandra Reed said. "Your service is important to us, and no matter what, we will always be there to record your history and to acknowledge everything that you've done for..."
Reed said the project gained momentum after a recent interview with an Iraq War veteran highlighted a broader need: to ensure that service members from earlier eras are recognized and remembered by name, not just as anonymous figures in an archive.
How the public can contribute
Officials hope that descendants, local historians or genealogists may recognize family likenesses or possess old photographs, letters, or genealogical records that could be compared with the tintypes. Even a small piece of documentation — a family portrait, a labeled album, or a muster roll tied to a photograph — could help staff make identifications that have eluded researchers for decades.
- Collection: Individual tintype portraits of every enlisted member of Company B, 2nd Regiment, Maryland Eastern Shore volunteers.
- Date and place of photographs: Taken shortly after enlistment in Chestertown, 1861.
- Donation: The set was given to the Maryland Center for Military History in 1991.
- Identified so far: 1st Sgt. Alfred Benjamin (only confirmed identification).
Curators stress that even partial matches would be useful. They are presenting the images publicly in hopes that someone will connect a face with a surname through family records kept in attics, church archives or county courthouses across the Eastern Shore and beyond.
Local significance and research value
A matched identification would not only restore a name to a soldier’s face but would also enhance interpretation of the display and allow historians to better understand the social and demographic makeup of the unit. Researchers could then link photographs to service records, pension files and other primary sources that illuminate each man’s wartime experience and postwar life.
For descendants, a confirmed identification could provide a tangible family connection to the Civil War and a new resource for genealogical research. For scholars, the collection represents a rare research opportunity: photographic evidence keyed to a complete company roster.
Officials with the Maryland Center for Military History and the Maryland National Guard asked that anyone who believes they may have relevant material or recognition reach out to the center so staff can assess and compare records against the tintypes.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Company B, 2nd Regiment, Maryland Eastern Shore volunteers |
| Photographic format | Tintypes (individual portraits) |
| Photograph date/location | Shortly after enlistment, Chestertown, 1861 |
| Donated | 1991 |
| Identified individuals | 1 (1st Sgt. Alfred Benjamin) |
The Maryland Center for Military History’s request underscores a broader movement among museums and archives to crowdsource identification and documentation as a way to expand public engagement with historical collections. Staff say the effort is not only a search for names but also a way to reconnect present-day families with their ancestors’ service.
Anyone with information, family photographs or documents that might help identify the soldiers is encouraged to contact the Maryland Center for Military History. Confirming identities would add to the public record and strengthen the historical value of a rare, nearly complete visual record of a single Civil War company.
