The 150th anniversary of the Civil War marked by a new book and author appearance April 12 at the Vermont History Museum

A Very Fine Appearance: The Vermont Civil War Photographs of George Houghton

By Donald H. Wickman, foreword by Harold Holzer

Dateline: March 28, 2011

Barre, Vt.– The year 2011 begins the 150th commemoration of the Civil War. That war, fought on American soil over the issue of slavery, shaped the character of American society today. There is now a book available about the photographer from Brattleboro who captured the very marrow of Vermont soldiers’ experiences.

The Vermont History Museum at 109 State Street in Montpelier will host a book signing to honor this historic battle. On April 12 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm, Donald H. Wickman, author of a newly released book “A Very Fine Appearance” The Vermont Civil War Photographs of George Houghton, will present his book to the public for the first time. Wickman pairs stunning photographs with excerpts from the personal diaries and letters of Vermont soldiers, offering over 100 images and a rich collection of Civil War photography and insights. The event will be in the Snelling Room at the museum.

Photographer George H. Houghton of Brattleboro accompanied Vermont soldiers into the field, documenting their experiences at Camp Griffin in Northern Virginia during the fall and winter of 1861-62; on the Virginia Peninsula during McClellan’s campaign in the spring and summer of 1862; and along the Occoquan River during the winter and spring of 1863. The images of those immersed in the battles truly express the significant role Vermonters played in the bloody conflict. Ken Burns, PBS filmmaker, commented, “This is a wonderful, intimate portrait of the war that still continues to define us.”

Noted author, historian, and the nation's most prominent scholar on Civil War photography, William A. Frassanito says, “Never before have the extraordinary efforts of a long-obscure Civil War cameraman named George H. Houghton been so thoroughly chronicled.”

For more information, call Julie Nelson at (802) 479-8519.

Published by the Vermont Historical Society

ISBN: 978-0-934720-58-8    Hardcover    $44.95

ISBN: 978-0-934720-59-5    Paperback    $34.95