Details
Contributor Colburn, Helen M., approximately 1844-1912.
Title An unpleasantness in Swampoodle. [graphic].
Publisher [Washington, D.C.] : [Mrs. Rollinson Colburn] , [1887]
Publisher D.C. Washington. 1887
Physical Description 1 photograph : albumen mounted on cardboard ; mount 11 x 17 cm (4.5 x 6.5 in.)
Description Photographic reproduction of a print drawn by Helen M. Colburn, daughter of New Jersey artist Rembrandt Lockwood, depicting an altercation in the post-Reconstruction African American and Irish northeast Washington, D.C. working-class neighborhood "Swampoodle." The figures are drawn with racist and caricatured features and mannerisms. In the center, an African American woman holds an ax up to another African American woman who stands with her hands at her hips, and with a look of surprise on her face. A third African American woman to the left of the woman with an ax attempts to reach for the weapon, while a fourth African American woman holds a switch and looks on with a stunned expression. Beside the stunned woman, a small African American boy stands in front of a fifth African American woman leaning over to pick up a rock. In the far left, an African American police officer is being led by an African American boy to the group of women. A shadowy depiction of a crowd of men, women, and children, some holding up brooms and sticks, is visible in the background. Scene also includes wash buckets, switches, and weeds on the ground near the central figure's feet. The central figures wear worn shirts and long skirts or dresses. The woman threatended wears the most worn cloths and rags on her feet. Three of the women wear kerchiefs and two wear aprons. Robinson, married to Washington U.S. Treasury clerk Rollinson Colburn, lived in the Capitol between circa 1870 and her death in 1912. In 1887 eight of her works, some purported to be based on her own eye-witness accounts during the 1870s, showing African American life in the city were published as a collectible series of photographs. Occassionally, Colburn described and signed her descriptions of the scenes on the versos of the photographs.
Notes Title printed on mount.
Date from copy right statement printed on mount: Copyright 1887.
Written in lower left of original print: Copyright 1887.
Written in lower right of original print: Mrs. R. Colburn.
Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund.
RVCDC
Description revised 2022.
Access points revised 2022.
Subject African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons.
African American children -- Washington (D.C.)
African American police -- Washington (D.C.)
African American women -- Washington (D.C.)
Axes -- Washington (D.C.)
Racism in popular culture.
Threats.
Geographic subject Swampoodle (Washington, D.C.)
Genre Albumen prints -- 1880-1890.
Genre photographs -- 1880-1890.
Reproductions -- 1880-1890.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| photos - 5 x 7 - unidentified - Events [P.2015.22 & P.2020.16.6]
Accession number P.2015.22
P.2020.16.6