Digital Clothing Reconstruction of the Hunley Crew

  • Hunley clothing laying on table
  • 3D digital reconstruction of jacket close-up Dixon Clothing

3D digital reconstruction of clothing - red jacket Dixon ClothingIn 2022, archaeologists and conservators from the WLCC began a collaboration with the Clemson Digital Production Arts (DPA) department to develop 3D digital reconstructions of the clothing worn by the Hunley crew. The Warren Lasch researchers began this project by analyzing the textile fragments recovered from the submarine, along with any associated buttons and shoes, and conducted a thorough search of historical clothing from the Civil War period. The analysis of the clothing fragments and historical research laid the groundwork for the digital artist to reconstruct what the crew was wearing on the night of the attack against the USS Housatonic.

DPA Master’s students Kayla Rutherford and Hanna George were recruited to develop the 3D reconstruction of two of the crewmembers from the Hunley to help visualize their clothing. Kayla Rutherford reconstructed the clothing from George E. Dixon (right, red jacket), who had the largest amount of textile remains of any of the crewmembers, and Hanna George reconstructed James Wicks’ clothing. These two crewmembers were chosen because of the textiles available and the historical research into the types of clothing researchers believed them to be wearing.

While Dixon had the largest amount of textile remains, his attire was difficult to determine because it was completely civilian attire, unlike the other crewmembers, who appeared to be wearing mostly military uniforms of varying types. The standardization of military uniforms makes historical research easier because many examples are still available today, while Dixon’s civilian attire had a much broader range of possibilities.

  • 3D digital reconstruction of all black clothing Dixon Clothing
    Dixon Clothing
  • 3D digital reconstruction of clothing - Wicks clothing
    Wicks Clothing

The clothing reconstructions for both Dixon and Wicks provided incredible visual insight into their attire in a way that traditional methods could not achieve. The collaboration between the WLCC and Clemson’s Digital Production Arts program provided a detailed analysis of the Hunley crewmember's clothing in new and innovative ways. The WLCC plans on continuing this collaboration to reconstruct the clothing worn by all members of the Hunley crew.