Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
Greenwell, Elisa, American
Date
early 1860s
Medium
cased photograph (a): collodion and silver on glass photographic plates, with wood, papier-mâché, and metal case;
note (b): ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W x D (a): 3 11/16 × 3 1/4 × 7/16 in. (9.4 × 8.3 × 1.1 cm)
H x W (b): 3/4 × 2 13/16 in. (1.9 × 7.1 cm)
Description
A black-and-white photograph of Elisa Greenwell (a) accompanied by a handwritten paper note with identifying information (b). In the photograph, Greenwell is seated and faces the camera directly, with her right elbow propped on a table and both hands resting in her lap. Her hair is pinned up at the back of her head. She wears a light-colored dress with a large-scale plaid pattern, white lace collar and stock, and a dark-colored shawl draped over her shoulders. Her cheeks and lips are hand-tinted in a pinkish hue and a spot of gilt is placed over a pin worn at her center front neck. The ambrotype is housed in one half of a wooden case with a papier-mâché cover in a floral design and painted black. The glass plate is surrounded by a gold metal frame with an oval-shaped cut out. A metal hook for fastening the case to the missing lid is present on the right side of the case.
The accompanying loose paper note (b) has handwritten text in black ink reading: "Elisa Greenwell resident of Philadelphia / runaway from the residence of / William Edelen of Leondardtown Md / in 1859". The reverse is blank.
Place depicted
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Leonardtown, St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Photographs and Still Images
Type
ambrotypes
portraits
notes
Topic
Emancipation
Freedom
Fugitive enslaved
Photography
Resistance
Self-liberation
Slavery
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.97.4ab
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ca96c53c-089f-4b39-a61f-da88782e5972

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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