Rubber Poncho 1866

Oliver H. Willard created this photographic print of a rubber poncho during his lifetime, but the exact date of its creation is unknown. This is no ordinary poncho, and this isn’t just any photograph. The material tells a story of transformation. Before vulcanization, rubber was brittle in cold weather and sticky in the heat. In 1839, Charles Goodyear patented a method to treat it and make it stable. And suddenly, a vast array of new applications became possible, including waterproof clothing. Consider how this changed the life of a Civil War soldier – the subject of this portrait – keeping him dryer, more comfortable, and healthier too. But beyond that, think about what it took to produce this unassuming object: the global extraction of raw materials, factories turning out bolts of rubberized cloth, and garment workers cutting and assembling them. This photograph captures not only an individual but also the immense economic transformations of the industrial age.