Published by

Douglass, Frederick, American, 1818 - 1895

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W (open): 26 1/2 × 38 in. (67.3 × 96.5 cm)

H x W (closed): 26 1/2 × 19 1/8 in. (67.3 × 48.5 cm)

Type

newspapers

Place printed

Rochester, Monroe County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

July 28, 1854

Description

The July 28, 1854 issue of Frederick Douglass' Paper, a Rochester-based weekly newspaper published and edited by Frederick Douglass that centered on antislavery efforts and other social reform causes. The title [Frederick Douglass' Paper] is printed in large text across the top, just underneath the title are the issue details printed between two horizontal black lines: [Vol. VII, No. 32, ROCHESTER, N.Y. FRIDAY JULY 28, 1854., Whole Number 344]. The text of the paper is densely concentrated in seven vertical columns and there is both a vertical and horizontal crease through the center. An inscription of the name [Stephen Reeves] is written in black ink at the top right corner of the front page. The last page contains a large advertisement: "Call for a National Emigration Convention of Colored Men to be held in Cleveland Ohio" and is signed in print by Martin R. Delany.

Transcription Center Status

Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic

African American

Antislavery

Education

International affairs

Mass media

Social reform

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2014.63.10

Restrictions & Rights

Public domain

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Slavery and Freedom Objects

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Written by

Douglass, Frederick, American, 1818 - 1895

Brown, John, American, 1800 - 1859

Received by

Brown, Mary Ann, American, 1817 - 1884

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 9 7/8 x 7 7/8 in. (25.1 x 20 cm)

Type

letters (correspondence)

Place made

Rochester, Monroe County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

January 30, 1858

Description

A letter written by John Brown and Frederick Douglass from Rochester, New York, on January 30, 1858, to Brown's wife and children. The letter is handwritten in black ink on the front and back sides of a single sheet of paper. The letter is first written by Brown, who does not sign his portion beyond "Your Affectionate Husband and Father." Brown writes of missing his wife and children very much, but of not being able to visit them. He also asks his daughter Ruth about her husband, Henry Thompson, becoming involved in Brown's "school," coded language for Brown's militant abolitionist dealings. He further speaks of recruiting his sons for his work and requests that the family write to him under the name "N. Hawkins: Care of Fred'k Douglas [sic] Esq'r Rochester N[.] Y." Douglass writes on the lower half of the verso page with his words oriented three different directions to fit the page. He speaks of his friendship with the Brown family and invites any of them to his home, where John Brown is staying, signing as "Fred. Douglass."

Transcription Center Status

Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic

African American

Antislavery

Correspondence

Domestic life

Fatherhood

Government

Resistance

Slavery

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2009.26.3

Restrictions & Rights

Public Domain

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Slavery and Freedom Objects

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photograph by

Unidentified

Printed by

Prang, Louis, Prussian, 1824 - 1909

Signed by

Cole, Abraham

Subject of

Johnson, Augustus L., American, born ca. 1846

Murphy, Malinda, American, born ca. 1846

Medium

ink on paper, collodion and silver on iron with lacquer

Dimensions

H x W: 11 1/4 × 9 1/4 in. (28.6 × 23.5 cm)

Type

tintypes

portraits

marriage certificates

Place used

Monroe County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

July 9, 1874

Description

This marriage certificate includes tintype portraits of the betrothed, Augustus Johnson and Malinda Murphy. The couple were married on July 9, 1874. The certificate, printed by Louis Prang, has an ornamental design that includes decorative lettering and framing. An illustrated man and a woman sit on the proper right and left sides of the certificate, respectively, and each of them holds a wreath and torch.The proper right side of the certificate contains the tintype of Augustus Johnson and the proper left side contains that of Malinda Murphy. Johnson’s portrait shows him looking off to the side in 2/3 profile view. He has a beard, and he is dressed in a white shirt and dark coat. Murphy’s portrait shows her facing the camera but looking off to the proper left. She wears a dark dress with a white, ruffled collar and a white bow. Her hair is a in a braided coif and she wears dangling earrings and a tasseled necklace. Pre-printed and handwritten ink text on the certificate reads: “Marriage Certificate / Mr. Augustus Johnson and Miss Malinda Murphy / Were this ninth 9th day of July 1874 legally joined by me in / MATRIMONY / In presence of Charles Bannister [and] Joanna Murphy to which I hereby / Certify Abraham Cole.”

The tintypes are secured to the reverse of the paper with masking tape and scotch tape. Adhesive residue is evident around the photographs indicating an older, failed attachment method. Illegible text is written in pencil oriented vertically at the top left, left center edge, and left side below the tintype. Additional pencil in the lower right written vertically reads "9 X 11 1/4". Handwritten ink text in the lower right reads "Dec. 17th 1874 / Sir / Snowing / Winds blowing / Augustus Johnson / Spencerport, NY / Monroe Co".

Topic

African American

Families

Photography

United States--Social life and customs

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Louis Moran and Douglas Van Dine

Object number

2016.58

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Documents and Published Materials-Business and Legal Documents

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photograph by

Scurlock, Addison N., American, 1883 - 1964

Subject of

Unidentified Woman or Women

Medium

photographic gelatin and silver on paper

Dimensions

H x W (image and sheet): 9 7/16 × 4 7/16 in. (24 × 11.3 cm)

Type

photographs

portraits

Place depicted

Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

Place collected

Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, United States, North and Central America

Date

1900s - 1910s

Description

Black and white portrait of a woman in graduation attire. The woman is standing with the left side of her body faceing the camera and is wearing a graduation cap and gown. Her high neck lace blouse is visible above the collar. The words [SCURLOCK / WASH D.] are written in the bottom right corner. There are no inscriptions on the back.

Topic

African American

Education

Photography

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jennifer Cain Bohrnstedt

Object number

TA2015.143.6.3

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Archival Collections

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Bastian Brothers Company, American, founded 1895

Subject of

Walker, Madam C.J., American, 1867 - 1919

Walker, Madam C.J. Manufacturing Company, American, founded 1906

Medium

metal and ribbon

Dimensions

H x W: 9 1/4 x 2 5/16 x 5/8 in. (23.5 x 5.9 x 1.6 cm)

Type

badges

Place made

Rochester, Monroe County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date

1917

Description

A badge from the National Convention of Madam C. J. Walker's Agents. The badge consists of a pendant and two ribbons hanging from a gold-colored metal bar. The bar at the top has a pin back, and the front features a smooth empty rectangular field with a scrolled border. A circular pendant is connected to the bar via two short chains, one from each corner. The pendant features a circular black & white photographic portrait of Madam C. J. Walker set in a gold-colored metal frame edged with a scrolling design. The ribbon on the front of the badge is yellow with black text at the bottom that reads "NATIONAL / CONVENTION / OF / MADAM / C.J. WALKER'S / AGENTS." The ribbon on the back is black with metallic silver text at the bottom that reads "NATIONAL / CONVENTION / OF / MADAM / C.J. WALKER'S / AGENTS" The ribbons are connected at the bottom via a strip of woven metal wire from which hang coiled metallic fringe. Fastened between the two ribbons is a white manufacturer's tag with black letters. It reads "Bastian Brothers Co./ Novelties That Advertise/ Badges Buttons Signs/ Main Office and Factory/ Rochester, N.Y. U.S.A."

Topic

African American

Business

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of A'Lelia Bundles / Madam Walker Family Archives

Object number

2013.153.2.1

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

The North Star, American, 1847 - 1859

Edited by

Douglass, Frederick, American, 1818 - 1895

Published by

Nell, William Cooper, American, 1816 - 1874

Edited by

Delany, Martin Robison, American, 1812 - 1885

Written by

Mott, Lucretia, American, 1793 - 1880

Printed by

Dick, John, British

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W (Folded): 25 × 18 1/4 in. (63.5 × 46.4 cm)

H x W (Open): 24 13/16 × 36 5/16 in. (63 × 92.3 cm)

Type

newspapers

Place printed

Rochester, Monroe County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

May 26, 1848

Description

The May 26, 1848 issue of the North Star, Volume 1, Number 22. The newspaper is one large sheet of paper that has been folded in half to create a four page spread. Each page is divided into seven columns of black text. On the front page mast head, large black text states [The North Star.] In the row below, the text on the far left reads [FREDERICK DOUGLASS / MR. DELANY, / EDITORS]. In the center, the text of the newspapers slogan reads, [RIGHT IS OF NO SEX - TRUTH IS OF NO COLOR- GOD IS THE FATHER OF US ALL, AND ALL WE ARE BROTHREN] The text on the right of the heading states, [WILLIAM C. NELL, PUBLISHER / JOHN DICK, PRINTER]. The third row has the printed text, [VOL I. NO. 22. / ROCHESTER, N.Y., FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1848. / WHOLE NO. - 22.]. Included on the second page in the second panel is the speech of Lucretia Mott at the American Anti-Slavery Society.

Topic

African American

Antislavery

Communities

Free communities of color

Freedom

Mass media

Social reform

United States--History--1815-1861

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2017.36.5

Restrictions & Rights

Public domain

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

The North Star, American, 1847 - 1859

Edited by

Douglass, Frederick, American, 1818 - 1895

Delany, Martin Robison, American, 1812 - 1885

Published by

Dick, John, British

Medium

ink on newsprint

Dimensions

H x W (folded): 13 3/16 × 18 1/2 in. (33.5 × 47 cm)

Type

newspapers

Place printed

Rochester, Monroe County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

September 8, 1848

Description

The September 8, 1848 issue of the North Star, an antislavery newspaper published in Rochester, New York by Frederick Douglass. The paper is printed with black text on yellowed newsprint. The masthead reads [THE NORTH STAR. / RIGHT IS OF NO SEX-TRUTH IS OF NO COLOR-GOD IS THE FATHER OF US ALL, AND ALL WE ARE BRETHREN. / ROCHESTER, N. Y., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1848.] On the left side of the masthead is [FREDERICK DOUGLASS, / M. R. DELANY, / EDITORS / VOL. 1. NO. 37.] Printed on the right side of the masthead is [JOHN DICK, PUBLISHER / WHOLE NO.-37.]. The main text is organized into seven columns of small print. At the top of the column on the far left, above the publisher's notices and list of agents, is printed: [The object of the NORTH STAR will be to attack SLAVERY in all its forms and aspects; advocate UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION; exalt the standard of PUBLIC MORALITY; promote the moral and intellectual improvement of the COLORED PEOPLE; and hasten the day of FREEDOM to the THREE MILLIONS of our ENSLAVED FELLOW COUNTRYMEN.] This issue contains several anti-slavery essays and letters, including a letter from Douglass to his previous enslaver Thomas Auld, titled [To My Old Master], as well as a critique of the Liberian colonization movement, news of the rebellion in Ireland, poetry, notices of anti-slavery society meetings around the region, and general advertisements.

Topic

African American

Antislavery

Communities

Free communities of color

Freedom

International affairs

Mass media

Social reform

United States--History--1815-1861

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2014.151.3

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Slavery and Freedom Objects

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Exhibition

Slavery and Freedom

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture