This carte-de-visite is found in Series 6 of the Charlene Hodges Byrd Collection. This collection documents the personal life and professional career of Charlene Hodges Byrd as well as her related family members from various areas throughout the Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C. This collection is comprised of correspondence, ephemera and photographs discussing family life, religion, race, education as well as the family relationship with Frederick Douglass and his family. The collection is available for research by contacting NMAAHC Archives at nmaahc-archivalcollection@si.edu or see our collections in the Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives available here: https://goo.gl/Rwckpe.
Description
A cabinet card of Frederick Douglass and his grandson Joseph Douglass. Frederick Douglass is featured on the right side of the image and sits in a chair holding papers in his hands atop his lap. Joseph Douglass, in the left side of the image, sits atop a table and holds a violin in his proper right hand. His proper left hand is resting on the back of his grandfather. The bottom of the card has a maker's mark and address for Notman Photographic Company in Boston.
Letter to Mrs. Terrell from Joseph H. Douglass, grandson of Frederick Douglass, dated May 31, 1911. Single page written on Douglass' personal stationary. Black ink on tan paper. Letter head at the top reads [JOSEPH H. DOUGLASS / Solo Violinist / ENGAGEMENTS ACCEPTED / FOR RECITALS / CONCERTS AND CHURCH / SERVICES / NOW TOURING AMERICA]. Along the left side of the page is a text box containing five quotes from newspapers titled [PRESS COMMENTS]. The handwritten letter reads [1644 Fla. ave N. W. / Wash. D.C. May 31st 1911 / My dear Mrs Terrell: / Replying to your esteemed / favor just received, will say / that it is my pleasure to / accept the invitation to the present / and render a violin selection / on the occasion of the one hun- / dredth anniversary of Harriet / Beecher Stowe. / I thank you for the oppor- / tunity and honor which enables / me to add my little mite / in the celebration of that noble / woman's birth as well as to appear / before such a body of honored women. / I am proud of the fact that / among those mentioned in your / letter, none will be more represen- / tative or distinguished among the / speakers of the meeting than your / honored self. / Yours most sincerely / Joseph H. Douglass / (P.S. / I have carefully / noted the date June 14")]