Illustrated by
Perine, George Edward, American, 1837 - 1885
Subject of
Elliott, Robert Brown, American, 1842 - 1884
Illustrated by
Nast, Thomas, American, 1840 - 1902
Date
ca. 1874 and 1876; printed later
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W (sheet): 8 7/16 × 5 11/16 in. (21.5 × 14.5 cm)
Description
A page from an unidentified book with a black-and-white reproduction of an engraving of Robert B. Elliott by George E. Perine on one side. Dressed in a bowtie, white shirt, and dark jacket, Elliott is pictured from the chest up, gazing to his proper left. Directly below the portrait is: [Eng by Geo E Perine N.Y.]. Printed in black script is the signature: [Robt. B. Elliott] and printed below is: [HON. ROBERT B. ELLIOTT]. At the bottom left corner beneath the image is printed [Library of Congress].
The other side of the book page has a reproductions of the prints "The First Colored Senator and Representatives in the 41st and 42nd Congress of the United States," by Currier and Ives (top) and "The Bloody Shirt Removed," a cartoon by Thomas Nast (bottom). The top print is a group portrait featuring: Robert C. De Large of South Carolina, Jefferson H. Long of Georgia, Senator H.R. Revels of Mississippi; Benjamin S. Turner, of Alabama, Josiah T. Walls of Florida, Joseph H. Rainy of South Carolina, and Robert Brown Elliott of South Carolina. The bottom political cartoon depicts Democratic presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden amidst African American victims of violence and quotations about reforms and a reference to the 1876 Massacre at Hamburg. At the bottom is the text: ["THE BLOODY SHIRT REMOVED" / Governor Tilden: "It is not I, but the Idea of Reform which I represent].
Statement
Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
Place made
United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Books and Published Materials
Type
reprographic copies
Topic
Caricature and cartoons
Civil rights
Freedom
Justice
Law
Men
Photography
Politics
Race riots
Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877
Slavery
U.S. History, 1865-1921
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Stanley Turkel's Collection of Reconstruction Era Materials
Object number
2012.160.152.3
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5c49510b6-8384-4376-94d8-dd752e85dbc0

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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