| Creator |
Cooper, W.P., 1822-1888, designer. |
| Contributor |
Cannon, Sarah 1864-1945, associated name. |
|
Moss, David approximately 1850-, associated name. |
|
Moss, Isaac approximately 1816-1891, associated name. |
|
Gies & Co., printer. |
| Title |
Marriage certificate. We are one forever. This certifies that [Green Allen] and [Mary E. Foster] were united in holy matrimony
by me according to the ordinance of God, laws of the state of [Mich] at [Decatur] on the [30] day of October. In the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and [79] [Isaac Moss Minister of the Gospel. Witnesses [Sarah A. Foster] [David Moss]
[graphic] / Design by W.P. Cooper, Kingsville, O.
|
| Publisher |
Conneaut, O[hio]: B.F. Kennedy, proprietor], (Buffalo, N.Y.: Gies & Co) |
| Date |
[completed 1879, printed ca. 1875] |
| Physical Description |
1 print: lithograph with two albumen prints on carte de visite mounts, one hand-colored ; sheet 31 x 24 cm (12 x 9.25 in.) |
| Description |
Marriage certificate containing the bust-length, carte-de-visite studio portrait photographs of Green T. Allen, Jr. and Mary
E. Foster surrounded by text, pictorial details, and a geometrically-shaped border. Allen and Foster identified as multiracial
in census records. Allen's portrait depicts the young man, looking to the right, and attired in a jacket with a notch lapel,
a multi-colored tie, and white shirt with lapel collar. He also has a mustache and wears his hair short and greased flat.
Foster's portrait (hand-colored) depicts the young woman, looking to the right, and attired in a garment with ruffle details
at the shoulder and a neckerchief with fringe. She wears her long, wavy hair pulled back in the front and loose in the back.
She also wears earrings. Between and around the portraits are pictorial details depicting flowers, grapes, vinery, doves (in
nests), and scrollwork. Allen, son of Cass County, Michigan farmer Green Allen, Sr. was also a farmer, and a Justice of Township
later in life. Allen, Jr. and Mary E. (Foster) Allen, daughter of a Decatur, Michigan farmer, had two children, son Charles
F. Allen (1880-1971) and daughter Ethel May Allen Goens (1886-1942). Green T. Allen Jr.'s father was a founder of the prominent
Black community of Southwest Michigan that settled in the area via the Underground Railroad.
|
| Notes |
Title from item. |
|
Date of printing inferred from manuscript date. |
|
Completed in manuscript to Green Allen and Mary E. Foster on October 30, 1879. Signed Isaac Moss, Sarah A. Foster, and David
Moss. Sarah A. Foster, later Cannon, was the sister of Mary E. Foster. Isaac Moss was a farmer and reverend. David Moss, son
of Isaac Moss, was a farmer.
|
|
Contains newspaper clipping from a ca. 1918 March edition of "The Cassopolis (Mich.) Vigilant" on verso. Clipping is backing
for portrait photographs.
|
|
RVCDC |
| Biographical / historical note |
W.P. Cooper was a teacher by the 1870s and had previously attended law school. |
| Subject |
Allen, Green, Jr., 1858-1933 -- Portraits. |
|
Allen, Mary Elizabeth, 1860-1920 -- Portraits. |
|
African American couples. |
|
African American men. |
|
African American women. |
|
Borders (ornament areas) |
|
Doves. |
|
Flowers. |
|
Grapes. |
|
Marriage -- Michigan -- Decatur. |
|
Racially mixed people. |
|
Mutliracial people. |
|
African American History. |
| Genre |
Albumen prints -- 1880-1890. |
|
Cartes de visite -- 1880-1890. |
|
Lithographs -- 1880-1890. |
|
Marriage certificates -- 1880-1890. |
| Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| *GC - Certificates - Marriage [P.2024.46.1] |
| Accession number |
P.2024.46.1 |
