1865 photo of a Bazaar in Chicago
An interesting Civil War stereoview from the series "Views of Chicago. Fair for Sanitary Commission 1865. Photographed and Published by I. Crater, 55 Clark St., opp. Sherman House, Chicago.' A fine view looking down one of the sections with a man in the foreground, probably a prominent local politician or personality. Behind him are a number of women, who were possibly the organizing force of this Fair as they were for other Sanitary Fairs. There are several uniformed soldiers in the distance. To the left is a display of Wilcox and Gibbs sewing machines, with a large American flag draped on the sign. Additional U.S. flags and bunting are on the back wall.
The Sanitary Fairs were organized to provide relief for Union soldiers during the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln donated his draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to the 1863 Sanitary Fair in Chicago, where it sold for $ 3,000. At this 1865 Fair (which was the 2nd in Chicago), lithographed CDV cards of Old Abe, the eagle mascot carried by the 8th Wisconsin Regiment were sold to raise money.
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