Officer, 69th Regiment, New York State Militia, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the late 19th century as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It depicts an officer of the 69th Regiment of the New York State Militia. In its time, this card was less about high art and more about commerce and popular culture. The image itself is a window into the social fabric of the period. The 69th Regiment, also known as the "Fighting 69th," had a strong Irish-American identity. These militias were as much social and political organizations as military ones. The image subtly reinforced notions of patriotism, military service, and even ethnic identity, all to sell cigarettes. Understanding this image requires us to look beyond its surface appeal and delve into the archives of social and institutional history. Trade catalogs, regimental histories, and census records can tell us more about the cultural meanings attached to images like this. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.