Does Anyone Recognize These Uniforms?

These were all from a lot of 3 albums belonging to the Symonds, Dore, Horton and Dennis Families in Salem, MA mainly. The first 2 were graduates of Salem High School in 1883 & 1884. Captain Peltier is from Troy New York and the other 3 are from New York, NY. If anyone recognizes the uniforms please let me know.

 

Jeff, I already left some information on your "Hello" thread (introducing yourself).

But here is the same information --

Here's a link the wikipedia regarding zouave uniforms -- look under the "Civil War" section to see some examples from the Civil War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zouave

and a link to Merriam-Webster dictionary --

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zouave

P.S. Welcome -- I (and DH) look forward to seeing other items which you have gathered.

 

I suspect all 3 in the bottom row were in Zouave units. There were an amazingly large number of units with "Zouave" in their name - not just in NY although I gather they are the best known. See how all 3 have that "French hunting horn" instead of a wreath on the unit device on their kepis? Plus the gathering of coat material below the belt on the 2 on the left.

As for the 2 young men from Salem MA - your post elsewhere simply mentioned "Class of (and the year)" but here you say they graduated from Salem High School in those 2 years. I tried to find out when Salem's school system included the term "high school," but even the school's own website doesn't include historical information. I did find out (on the Salem MA wiki page) that what is now Salem State College was established in 1859 as a "normal school." Since such schools graduated students at a much younger age than we think of as customary, I wonder if they were actually students there?

In the for what it's worth category, Salem HS does have a thriving Jr. ROTC program. It could be of such long standing that it would explain why they are in uniform for a HS graduation type picture.

 

Thanks everyone for the information. I would like to correct the Class Of. They were Class from SS, the rest in the albums were from SHS. So maybe SS stands for Salem State College.

 

Ha! They changed the name again. Now it's Salem State University.

Is the handwriting contemporary to the pictures or later? The first name was Salem Normal School, In 1932 changed to Salem Teachers College. In 1968 it became Salem State College, and finally, in 2010 the current name.

 

Here are the reverse sides.

 

Well, the lower name and class info is in an older hand, for sure, while the penciled info is clearly a bit newer. But I don't know what to make of the SS. I don't think the "normal" school wouldn't have had that abbreviation.

And making the assumption that they would have been about 16-18 when they graduated, I couldn't find either name of the right age living in Salem at the 1880 Census.

 

Yep, I am going to research these 3 albums this weekend. The one that had all the uniformed men but the 2 from Salem, almost all were from France and none were identified. And that would give credence to the Zouave uniforms, since the Zouave were from France. But the 2 other albums, all were identified. Very prominent families of Judges, Legislators, Senators and Clergy. Names associated with the albums were Horton, Dore, Dennis, Batchelder, Maguire, Verry, Symonds and a number of others.

 

Jeff - FYI. I had some time this afternoon and think I *may* have found your Frank Newhall. Found a Francis Newhall, born abt 1866 in Maine, living with his parents in Salem, MA in 1880. It seems, based on other records and a few family trees, that he may be the same Francis Joseph Newhall who eventually became Treasurer of the city of Newton, MA.

It is also possible that "Fred" Burke can be found in the 1880 Census as John F.S. Burke, born abt 1865 in MA. There is a Fred Burke still living in Salem in 1900, working as a manufacturer of electrical goods.

I was unable to find a military connection for either, though.

 

I scanned this portrait of Mr. Newhall because I wanted to compare to the picture you have. Despite the great change in age, I think it's fairly reasonable to think it might be the same person.

 

Thanks, I will take some time tomorrow and go over your research. Been a busy day today.

 

Here is an interesting site about Ancestry.

http://www.deadfred.com/

 

I have seen that one. Thanks!!

 

The horn insignia on the last 4 photos is for US Infantry. It was changed to crossed rifles in 1875, so these photos would date before that.

 

Thanks, I appreciate it.

 

Well I figured out the uniforms of the two young guys. The insignia on the cap say SHS, Salem High School, so they must have had some military program there in the 1880's.

 

Excellent!

 

My husband's family are Bowdoin graduates for three generations. After the Civil War, many colleges and high schools started cadet programs. Joshua Chamberlain, a Civil War hero, returned to become President of Bowdoin. His experience showed that young men who'd been drafted didn't know anything about the military and it caused huge loss of life. He and others like him wanted to ensure that young men would be prepared in the event of another conflict.