Frances L. Clayton

Artist Samuel Masury (American, 1818 - 1874)

Dateca. 1865

MediumAlbumen carte-de-visite

DimensionsImage and sheet: 3 11/16 × 2 3/16 inches (9.37 × 5.56 cm)
Mount: 3 15/16 × 2 7/16 inches (10 × 6.19 cm)

Credit LineGift of the Hall Family Foundation

Object number2005.37.46

SignedPrinted on mount verso, center, in black ink: "S. MASURY, / Photographic Artist, / 289 Washington St. / BOSTON."

InscribedOn mount verso, in black pen and pencil: "Frances L. Clayton 4 mo / heavy artilery [sic] Co. I 13 mo. Cavalry Co. A / 22 months" and Wi[illeg.] / So. Strong Rd. / Farmington, Me."

Markingsnone

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DescriptionImage of Frances Clayton wearing a dress with long sleeves and full skirt over a collared shirt with bow tie. She stands next to a chair and looks directly at the viewer.Gallery Label

Gallery Label

Frances Clayton claimed to have disguised herself as a man to fight for the Union Army in the Civil War. Using the name Jack Williams, Clayton said, she fought in more than a dozen battles between 1861 and 1863. Although Clayton’s story is colorful, it contains several uncertain or false claims. She became publicly known in 1863–1864 through a few newspaper stories and a handful of photographs. The best known of these photographs, were made in the Boston studio of Samuel Masury.

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