Taken in 1899, this photograph is of Company D, 8th Illinois Volunteer Regiment. It was included in an exhibit of photographs gathered for use in the American Negro Exhibit at the Paris Exposition, consisting of portraits and scenes of education, work, and daily life. The collection includes more than 360 photos presented by W.E.B. Du Bois and is in the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-109102
The photo is high enough resolution that, if you have access to a Smart Board, you can zoom in on details. However, you can also print it out on paper that measure up to 16 X 20. To access the high resolution image for printing or projection, right click on the image. Click “View Image” or “Open image in new tab”). To print, click “print.” In the print preview, click “Page Setup.” Choose “Landscape” for the orientation. Set all headers and footers to “blank.” Set margins to “0.” Then print.
Look to the Seven Strategies for help in generating questions for your classroom. Possible questions include:
- Strategy 2: Who do you think took this photograph and why?
- Strategy 4: How are the men in the picture dressed? Are any of them dressed differently from the others? How old do they seem to be? In what kind of place was this picture taken? What else do you notice? Does anything surprise you? What do you think these men are like? (Point out various men in the picture.) Find the man who is smiling. How is his attitude different from the others?
Extension Activity
Assign students the task of finding out about this regiment. Explain that the name of the regiment changed from year to year. In 1878, when it was formed, it was called the 16th Battalion. In 1963, it became the 178th Infantry. For your information, here is a link to its history.