DATE:September 16, 2021
TIME: 7:30 PM
SPEAKER:John Heiser
TOPIC: Finding the Location of the “Harvest of Death” Photograph
This was a research program by park staff and photographic specialists to locate where the notorious scene of Union dead on the battlefield of Gettysburg was photographed by Alexander Gardner in July 1863.
“Finding the Harvest of Death” is a detailed description of efforts made by park historians and independent researchers between 2002 and 2013 to locate the site of two photographs taken at Gettysburg by Alexander Gardner on July 6-7, 1863, specifically the only known images of Federal dead on the battlefield. Titled by Gardner as “A Harvest of Death”, these views were first published in his “Photographic Sketchbook” in 1866, and have long been a mystery as to where they were taken on the field. John compares past inconclusive efforts to find the location of the scene, the subject of constant discussion among researchers and buffs. It’s due to additional photographic and textural research by the people he will discuss what leads them to conclude the scene was photographed on the first day’s battlefield. John will also discuss Gardner’s objectives in visiting Gettysburg in greater detail.
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Meeting ID: 825 683