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Happy contraband [graphic].
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African American History Graphics Collection
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African American History Photographs
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Details
Creator
Philadelphia Photographic Company.
Title
Happy contraband [graphic].
Publisher
Philadelphia : Philada. Photographic Co., 730 Chestnut St
Publisher
PA. Philadelphia. 1865
Date
[ca. 1865]
Physical Description
1 photograph : albumen on card mount mount ; 10 x 6 cm (4 x 2.5 in.) (carte de visite format)
Description
Photographic reproduction of a caricature depicting a half-length, cameo portrait of an African American man playing a fife. Shows the man, posed to the right, looking up with his eyes, and holding up with both his hands, a fife to his pursed lips. He leans slightly forward, is portrayed with a furrowed brow, and is attired in a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a ribbon, white shirt with long sleeves, and a dark-colored vest. While commander of Fort Monroe, Virginia, General Benjamin Butler declared freedom seekers as "contraband of war," providing the impetus for Congress to enact the Confiscation Act of 1861. During the war, several visual materials, often satires, depicting Black persons as "contraband" were published.
Notes
Title from manuscript note on verso.
Date inferred from active dates of publisher.
RVCDC
Biographical / historical note
Philadelphia Photographic Company operated from 730 Chestnut Street circa 1864-1865 before relocating to 24 N. 8th Street. Active until about circa 1869, the firm, per advertisements, issued a catalog, sold "specialties" for albums, including "from original drawings by artists of high quality," and published "[Thomas H.] Johnson's Photographic Views of the Whole Oil Regions," as well as sold election campaign cards and badges.
Subject
African American men -- Caricatures and cartoons.
Flutes.
Fugitive slaves
Musicians.
Freedom seekers.
Racialization and visual culture.
Geographic subject
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Genre
Albumen prints -- 1860-1870.
Caricatures -- 1860-1870.
Cartes de viste -- 1860-1870.
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| cdv - non-portrait -Philadelphia Photographic Company - Happy [P.2022.50]
In Collections
African American History Photographs
Race and Visual Culture Digital Collection, 1801-1865
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