Racist photograph showing a seated African American man, attired in a gorilla mask, a coat, striped, patterned pants, socks, and shoes, facing right. Also included in the image is a patterned, tile floor., Title from manuscript note on mount., Date inferred from content., During the Civil War, the U.S government declared African American freedom seekers as "contraband of war.", Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of humorous caricatures and photographs. McAllister Collection, gift, 1886., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Created postfreeze., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Date
[ca. 1863]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cdv - miscellaneous - Civil War - Caricatures & cartoons [5780.F.51j]
Collection of twelve numbered and captioned comic cards using humanized animals to portray domestic and military scenes in the life of a conscripted rabbit. Includes cards showing the rabbit reviewing a "Draft" poster and declaring himself a patriot if drafted; the rabbit receiving the "agonizing fact" of his draft notice; his failed attempt to employ a substitute - a "Quack" of a duck rejected by a donkey of a surgeon (Dr. Donkey); his farewell to his love; his "fearful carnage" of the foe; his retreat to make "a sturdy rebel fly"; his successful "perilous duty" to deliver "despatches" to an owl general, including a confrontation by "a band of Gorillas," portrayed as racist caricatures, and his beheading of the Gorilla Chief; his promotion to Brigadier General; and his release from duty to "crown his glory with love" in wedded bliss., Attributed to James Queen after Henry Louis Stephens., Title from series title., Date from copyright statement by William A. Stephens., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of humorous caricatures and photographs. McAllister Collection, gift, 1886., Described in Gathering history: The Marian S. Carson Collection of Americana. (Washington, DC: Library of Congress, 1999), p. 91., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Queen, a Philadelphia lithographer and pioneer chromolithographer known for his attention to detail, served in the Civil War militia from 1862 until 1863, and created several lithographs with Civil War subjects.
Creator
Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 21-1886, lithographer
Date
1863
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Henry Louis Stephens Collection [5780.F.56a-l]
