[MUSIC - EARLY PHOTOGRAPHY]. Two photographs of African American conjoined twins Millie-Christine.

CDV, studio view of Millie-Christine, with a guitar at their side. Philadelphia, PA: W.L. Germon's Temple of Art, n.d., ca 1870s. 2 3/8 x 3 5/8 in. CDV on cardstock mount (toning, soiling, small surface abrasion to print). Photographer's imprint and lightly penciled identification on verso. -- Cabinet card, studio portrait of Millie-Christine. Boonton, NJ: Wendt, n.d., ca 1890s. 3 7/8 x 5 1/2 in. cabinet photograph on cardstock mount (light toning, spotting/soiling to print and mount, edge wear to mount). Photographer's imprint on mount recto and period identification on verso.

Born into enslavement on a plantation in southeastern North Carolina, the conjoined twins were sold several times while children and abducted twice by people looking to exploit them. Eventually, they came to be enslaved by Joseph Smith who toured the sisters through the United States, Canada, and Europe. They were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and continued to tour internationally. The talented singers were successful enough to purchase the property where they were born and build a grand home where they lived until their death. In early October 1912, Millie died after contracting tuberculosis. Christine was unable to be safely separated and died the next day. Though they had separate personalities, they were often referred to with one name, "Millie-Christine" and are themselves quoted as saying, "Although we speak of ourselves in the plural, we feel as but one person."