CDV seated studio portrait of an African American man holding a white toddler up on his lap. Photographer's imprint to verso along with inscription identifying the child as "Edward Demarest" and the man as "Sam." Inscription notes that Sam was "Once a Slave in the Demarest family" and was "Librated [sic] as a boy. Always with the family."

Samuel Van Bergen (c. 1820-1874) was a servant in the Demarest home in Claverack, NY for a large portion of his life, from at least 1850 until his death. Edward L. Demarest was the head of the Demarest household, therefore it is likely that the child Samuel holds here is the elder Edward's namesake, Edward S. Demarest, who was born around 1866.