Photograph by
Morey, Peter M., South African
Subject of
Mandela, Nelson, South African, 1918 - 2013
Bridgewater, Pamela E., American, born 1947
Swing, William Lacy, American, 1934 - 2021
United States Department of State, American, founded 1789
Owned by
Bridgewater, Pamela E., American, born 1947
Date
1990
Medium
dye and photographic gelatin on photographic paper with wood and glass
Dimensions
H x W (a): 9 1/16 × 12 in. (23 × 30.5 cm)
H x W x D (b): 12 3/16 × 16 1/4 × 1 in. (31 × 41.3 × 2.5 cm)
Caption
Bridgewater also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. As such, she had the distinction of being the longest-serving U. S. diplomat in South Africa, posted in Pretoria (1990 – 1993) and Durban (1993 – 1996) during the country’s transition from apartheid to a non-racial government. She was the first African American woman to serve as Consul General in Durban. Further, at the height of the last Liberian civil war, she was named Special Coordinator for Peace and led the U. S. delegation to peace talks.
Description
A framed photograph of then Political Officer with the State Department Pamela E. Bridgewater shaking hands with then Deputy President of the African National Congress Nelson Mandela. Captured from the waist up, both Bridgewater and Mandela appear in profile, looking at each other while grasping each other’s right hands. Bridgewater wears a turquoise suit jacket and Mandela is in a grey suit jacket and tie. Behind the pair are two men in dark suits and red ties and a woman is partially visible behind Bridgewater. The man on the left is the United States Ambassador to South Africa at the time, William Lacy Swing. The photograph was taken in an interior room with high windows and white walls, with a map mounted on the wall in the background.
On the verso is a very faded inscription of “best wishes” signed to Bridgewater from Mandela along with a typed adhesive label for the photographer, Peter M. Morey of the Pretoria News. The photograph has a white and grey mat and gold wood frame.
Place collected
Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
chromogenic color prints
Topic
Activism
Africa
Civil rights
Freedom
Government
International affairs
Photography
Politics
Race relations
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pamela E. Bridgewater, United States Ambassador (Retired)
Object number
2023.51.3ab
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5adf3f8b2-7dc8-4e13-b6b0-6aaeb5a824c3

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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