Photographers of the Civil War Era: Theodore Gubelman of Jersey City

Abstract

The Civil War greatly increased what later became known as “picture hunger.” To meet the demand, 235 new photo galleries started in New Jersey between 1861 and 1865, among them that of the ambitious German immigrant Theodore Gubelman of Jersey City. Although many of the Civil War era photographers did not make the medium their long-term career, Gubelman took advantage of changing trends and technology to remain in business into the next century.