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Gen. Timothy Wilcox, MD Photographic Archive, Arizona 19th C. [179117]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Photographic Images - Antique Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Gen. Timothy Wilcox, MD Photographic Archive, Arizona 19th C. [179117]
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Brig. General Timothy E. Wilcox, Surgeon, Personal Photo album and archive, c1860-1910.
Timothy Erastus Wilcox was born in Litchfield New York in 1840 and died in 1932. He attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, graduating in 1861 and proceeded to Medical school in Albany New York. He entered the Civil War in April, 1865 with the US Volunteers, and was mustered out in June of 1866. His career is difficult to follow, but it may be that Wilcox was a life-time Army man. Starting as an “Assistant Surgeon” during the Civil War, he kept that appointed job while rising in the military ranks. By 1879 he had been promoted to Captain during the Indian Wars of c1879-1882. During this period, he gained a tremendous fascination with the study of plants and trees. His military assignments took him far from home to various forts all over the West, including Fort Boise, Fort Huachuca (where he was appointed Major), Fort Yuma, Fort Niobrara, and finally Fort Schuyler before being assigned to Cuba during the Spanish-American war (Brig. General).
Wilcox’s study of plants and trees became a second occupation. His keen interest in western plants and trees led to the naming of several new species, including one named after himself. Many of the botanical historical collections contain his specimens, including an important group in New York. The key photo album in this archive contains original photos of plants and trees of importance to Wilcox, many identified with their proper names.
Wilcox’s military career is one of proud success. He was regularly appointed to trial judge panels for military trials, appointments generally reserved for only the finest officers of the highest integrity.
The album consists of 355 original photographs mostly albumen prints along with a few blue sepia tones. Wilcox himself appears to have been the photographer, as he is absent from all of the group shots. At least half are 5 x 7”. The inventory does not count printed photos from outside sources, such as magazines. It does count the occasional original photographs that may have been taken by others. A few are board mounted, but not noted below. Two mounted photo portraits of Wilcox accompany the collection.
Within this count are 25 photos of Indians in the Arizona and Nebraska fort regions.
Also included are 37 photos directly related to Wilcox’s botanical studies, all in Arizona. He was fascinated with the Agora family and the Arizona pines as well as the Saguaro, of which there is a terrific photo of a highly unusual specimen.
Many of the photographs within this album are historically important, such as the Wrangel, Alaska photos. The Tombstone Mine and Milling Co. mill at Charleston is another such example, though the variety here is outstanding. The content of the Fort photos centers upon overviews of the various Forts and of daily life with many photos of the officers and their families. The majority of the photos, indeed nearly half, are of Fort Huachuca.
The Inventory:
Alaska Blue Mountains 2
Alaska Ft Wrangle area 5 1900
Alaska Indian River 2
Alaska Sitka 5
Arizona Charlston 2
Arizona Ft Apache area 6
Arizona Ft Bowie 1
Arizona Ft Graham 1
Arizona Ft Grant 6
Arizona Ft Yuma 4
Arizona Ft. Huachuca 149 1892-1895
Arizona San Carlos 2
Arizona San Xavier 1
Arizona Tombstone 1
Arizona Yuma 12
Arkansas Hot Springs 1
California Angel Island 1
California Baldwins Ranch 2
California Catalina Island 1
California Cliff House (SF) 1
California Ft Bidwell 1
California Indio 1
California Lakeside (San Diego) 1
California Ramona Home 1
California San Diego (Maring Station) 4
California San Joaquin Valley 1
Cuba 16 1899
Idaho Boise City 1
Idaho, misc 3
Mexico Mescal making 1
Nebraska Ft Niobrara 18 1891
New York 21st Inf. 1 1895
New York Camp Black, Long island 20 1898
New York Ft Schuyler 37
New York Plattsburgh 1 1895
Ohio Columbus Barracks 5
Oregon Columbia River Area 3
Tennessee 1
unknown 5 mile gulch 1
unknown Mirror Lake 1
unknown NW Boundary Monument, US 1
unlabeled 18
Virginia City Point (US Grant) 1
Washington DC 7
Wyoming Cheyenne 1
unknown Boise Canyon 4

Two other original photograph albums come with this impressive archive. Wilcox graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York in 1861. One album, about 10 x 12”, contains perhaps 50 photos of teachers and perhaps classmates. At least half of this album is seriously water damaged. It is dated 1861. A photographic portrait of Wilcox is included.
Another 1861 small album about 6 x 9” contains upwards of 100 photographs by D.M. Putnam, Photographers. In it are presumed to be his classmates and important figures, including Lincoln.
A 6 x 9” diary style book accompanist h group, inscribed Timothy E. Wilcox, Union Laboratory, Dc. 17, 1860. The hand written book contains Wilcox’s notes on experiments, then moves into a realm of prescriptions for various illnesses Only 51pp of the book are used. In the back are more prescription notes, as well aas newspaper articles cut out regarding poisoning, etc.
The latter part of Wilcox’s life is here marked by a minor amount of correspondence and a few more photographs of his found with his son’s archive, which will come up in a future auction (Glover Wilcox, MD). -fnh Fort Huachuca Arizona