Sixth plate cased daguerreotype of Phineas Gage (1823-1860), circa 1855.

Dublin Core

Title

Sixth plate cased daguerreotype of Phineas Gage (1823-1860), circa 1855.

Alternative Title

Wilgus daguerreotype of Phineas Gage

Subject

Gage, Phineas
Brain -- Wounds and injuries
Neurosciences -- History
Brain -- Localization of functions
Psychology -- History
Head Injuries, Penetrating

Description

Sixth plate (2 3/4" x 3 1/4") cased daguerreotype of post-injury Phineas Gage. Portrait-style image depicts Gage holding the tamping iron that caused his 1848 frontal lobe injury. Bar marked with inscription from the Warren Anatomical Museum. As with most daguerreotypes, the image is laterally reversed, creating the mistaken impression that Gage was injured on right rather than the left side. The image is housed in a full wooden case covered with embossed brown paper made to simulate leather. The case interior is a red synthetic velvet cushion.

The Wilgus Daguerreotype is possibly first published photograph of Phineas Gage. The image had been discovered in the 2010s by the Wilgus family. The image was most likely taken between 1850-1854. The iron bar from the accident is shown with previous writing from the Warren Museum.

Abstract

Sixth plate daguerreotype depicting Phineas Gage and his inscribed tamping iron between 1850 and 1860, after he sustained a traumatic brain injury.

Creator

Unknown

Date Created

1850-1860

Rights

The Harvard Medical Library does not hold copyright on all the materials in the collection. For use information, contact the Warren Anatomical Museum Curator at chm@hms.harvard.edu

Access Rights

Accessing collections in the Warren Anatomical Museum and the Warren Anatomical Museum archive requires advanced notice. Please submit a request to Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu to access the displayed item

Relation

Warren Anatomical Museum 00949, 00950, and 03106

Is Part Of

Warren Anatomical Museum

Format

image

Extent

One case photograph

Medium

daguerreotypes (photographs)

Type

image

Identifier

Warren Anatomical Museum 21711

Provenance

Gift to the Warren Anatomical Museum in the Francis A. Countway Library of Harvard Medical School by Jack and Beverly Wilgus.

Files

WAM 21711_ref.jpg

Citation

Unknown, “Sixth plate cased daguerreotype of Phineas Gage (1823-1860), circa 1855.,” OnView, accessed March 28, 2024, https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/items/show/18168.