Photograph by
Galbraith, Robert, American, 1919 - 2015
Printed by
Bakht, Igor, born 1928
Subject of
Coley, Mary Francis Hill, American, 1900 - 1966
Sapp, Martha Butler, American, 1932 - 2003
Date
1952; printed 2005
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (Image): 14 1/2 x 19 in. (36.8 x 48.3 cm)
H x W (Sheet): 16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm)
Description
Black and white image of Martha Sapp giving birth. On the right hand of the image are a pair of bare legs splayed out, knees bent. Sapp wears white socks. On the bed in front of Sapp is a baby crying, covered in afterbirth. The umbilical cord of the baby is still attached but is seen spilling out the woman, along with the placenta. Sapp and child are laying on a bed covered with a patterned blanket. Behind Sapp, in the upper left, is a blur of a Mary Coley wearing a white apron with hands outstretched. Only the lower halves of both women can be seen in the image.
Place depicted
Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
Portfolio/Series
Reclaiming Midwives: Stills from All My Babies
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
gelatin silver prints
Topic
Black Enterprise
Children
Families
Health
Labor
Medicine
Midwifery
Motherhood
Photography
Rural life
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert Galbraith
Object number
2009.1.7
Restrictions & Rights
© 1987 Robert Galbraith
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ff5b3ee3-aca6-4f68-bcd2-d79a460df08a

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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