Three-quarter length portrait of the African American Methodist evangelist preacher, missionary, and temperance advocate who was born to enslaved parents in Maryland. Shows Smith, standing, slightly turned to her right, and attired in medium-colored, Quaker-like garb including a shawl, shirtwaist with an upright lace collar adorned with a pendant, skirt, and scoop bonnet. She holds a book, possibly a Bible, in her right hand, top edge down, and with her fingers interspersed between a few pages. A chair is partially visible in the right of the image and dark-colored drapery serves as the backdrop. Smith, her freedom bought by her father when a child, entered preaching in 1869. Known as a compelling speaker and singer, she preached at Methodist Episcopal churches throughout the East and Midwest, including Philadelphia. In 1878 she felt called to travel to Keswick, England for a Methodist convention and remained in the country to minister and then worked as a missionary in India (1879-1881) and West Africa (1882-1890). In 1890 she returned to the United States and settled in Chicago where she was also a prominent member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (Smith joined in the 1870s). In 1893 her "Autobiography" was published, from which she began to raise funds for an orphanage for African American children. 1n 1899 the Amanda Smith Orphan's Home, later the Amanda Smith Industrial Home opened in Harvey, Il. The home was razed by fire in 1918., Title from manuscript note on verso., Photographer's imprint printed on mount., Publisher's imprint printed on verso. Also includes a vignette depicting the British coat of arms., Mount designer's imprint printed on verso., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2018, p. 59 - 60., RVCDC, Description reviewed 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator
Pettitt, Alfred, -1880
Date
[1878]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cdv portraits - sitter - Smith [P.2018.13]
In Lowrie, L.A. Memoirs of Mrs. Louisa A. Lowrie (Pittsburgh, 1836), frontispiece., Waist-length portrait of the woman missionary, wearing a scarf around her neck.
In Mann, Rev. C.M. Memoir of Mrs. Myra W. Allen (Boston, 1832), frontispiece., Facsimile signature: Myra W. Allen., Myra Allen served as a missionary in Bombay, India, with her husband, David O. Allen., Bust-length portrait of Mrs. Allen.
In Woods, L. Sermon, preached at Haverhill, Mass. 4th ed., enl. (Boston, 1814), frontispiece., Waist-length portrait of the woman missionary, with a ruffled collar., Artists' signatures illegible; identification based on the copy of the 1st ed. (1814) owned by the American Antiquarian Society and copy of the 2nd ed. (1814) owned by Bowdoin College. Library Company's copy of the 8th ed. (1818) has portrait frontispiece engraved by Ralph Rawdon., Another portrait appears in: American missionary memorial (New York, 1853), p. 74.
