John Buhler and Walter Turnbull Scott, both from Mississippi, were cousins and students at the College of New Jersey during the first years of daguerreotypy. Buhler kept a diary that he titled My Microscope documenting his experiences as a student. In it he wrote about seeing the first daguerreotype portraits of himself taken by the New York photographer George Prosch, who had set up a studio in Princeton for several weeks.

"It was a curiosity to see the images that were taken of me this morning - all looking like Heroes in High Tragedy. Never saw such infernally fierce looking countenances in my life & Prosch said, that neither did he ever see such."

Other sessions with Prosch resulted in happier results, and Buhler wrote how "glorious" it would be "to have the 'counterfeit presentaments' of these good friends of mine stamped visibly thus - a tangible memento & a constant which shall bring their old selves continually to my Sight as they are ever present before my Memory! That, shall treasure up the delightful associations which were born in our pleasant Communion - the kindly associations of Mind & Heart! The Picture shall reproduce ever, the substantial images of their Forms & Faces! Memory shall call up and limn- the graphic shadows of our Intercourse - Sight shall clothe the Shade in Sunshine and Light!!"

Clearly Buhler continued in his desire to have "tangible mementos" of his "delightful association" - this triple portrait was taken of Buhler, his new wife Mary, and his cousin Walter, probably on the occasion of the marriage of Buhler and Mary.

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