[SLAVERY & ABOLITION]. CDV of Robert Whitehead with white slave children Rebecca and Rosa of New Orleans. New London, CT: Morgan & Bolles, ca 1863-1864.

2 1/4 x 4 in. CDV on cardstock mount (image with toning and soft focus throughout, edges clipped). Verso with Morgan & Bolles' imprint. Appears to be a period cropped copy of 1863 portrait, Emancipated Slaves, by Myron H. Kimball. Subjects featured here are Robert Whitehead, Rebecca Huger, and Rosina Downs.

According to an article appearing in Harper's Weekly, dated 30 January 1864, Rev. Robert Whitehead was born in Baltimore and taken to Norfolk, VA and thence to New Orleans, LA, by various enslavers including a Dr. Cook and a Dr. Leslie. In New Orleans, Whitehead painted houses and ships, eventually earning enough to buy his freedom. It is known that he enlisted in the US Army after gaining freedom, and HDS locates a Robert Whitehead enlisting at New Orleans in around August of 1863, and mustering into Company C of the 99th Infantry United States Colored Troops.

The caption of the original, full Kimball photograph reads, "Brought from Louisiana by Col. Geo. H. Hanks. The Children are from the Schools established by order of Maj. Gen. Banks." Subjects included Wilson Chinn, Charles Taylor, Augusta Broujey, Mary Johnson, Isaac White, Robert Whitehead, Rebecca Huger, and Rosina Downs.

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Ms. Horstman has spent over a decade specializing in historic photography and Americana at auction. During her tenure, she has overseen several notable single owner auctions, including property from the inventory of celebrated Americana and antique arms expert Norm Flayderman. During her time with the firm, she has maintained an active membership in the Daguerreian Society. Ms. Horstman holds an MA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Art History from The Ohio State University.

African Americana

[SLAVERY & ABOLITION]. CDV of Robert Whitehead with white slave children Rebecca and Rosa of New Orleans. New London, CT: Morgan & Bolles, ca 1863-1864.

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