Item No. 3865071

A signed vignette CDV portrait of Gerrick Mallery, shown here in civilian dress. The reverse bears the imprint of Philadelphia photographer O. B. DeMorat, over which Mallery has signed in period ink, “Resps & Regards of Gerrick Mallery.” The photograph was part of the family album of Bernard J. D. Irwin, the noted army surgeon, naturalist, and Medal of Honor recipient. It is likely that Mallery and Irwin met in the postwar regular army.

Mallery was a Yale-educated lawyer who entered Union service at the outbreak of the Civil War, initially serving as a lieutenant in the 71st Pennsylvania Infantry. He was severely wounded and captured during the Seven Days Battles and held as a prisoner at Libby Prison before being exchanged. Returning to duty, he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry and later served as judge advocate during the occupation of Virginia. After the war he entered the Regular Army as a captain and received brevet promotions for gallant and meritorious service. While serving on the frontier he developed an interest in Native American sign language and pictographs, research that led to his postwar career as a pioneering ethnologist with the Bureau of American Ethnology. His published studies on sign language and pictography became foundational works in the field. He died in 1894.