Gabrielle Obusek
(202) 633-8299
Concetta Duncan
(202) 633-9989
Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery
Eighth and G streets N.W.
John Stauffer, Sumner R. and Marshall S. Kates Professor of English and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University
Ann Shumard, consulting curator and senior curator of photographs, National Portrait Gallery
Media RSVP is required to attend; RSVP to Gabbie Obusek at obusekge@si.edu.
The National Portrait Gallery presents “One Life: Frederick Douglass,” an exhibition exploring the life and legacy of one of the 19th century’s most influential writers, speakers and intellectuals. This exhibition, which highlights the intimate relationship between art and protest, will showcase over 35 objects.
On view will be the ledger documenting Douglass’ birth in February 1818; a pamphlet of his “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” oration; two of his three autobiographies—My Bondage and My Freedom and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself; and a letter from Douglass to President Abraham Lincoln. Portraits of activists in Douglass’ circle, such as Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, will be on view in addition to likenesses of those who carried out his legacy, such as Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes.
“One Life: Frederick Douglass” is guest curated by John Stauffer, the Sumner R. and Marshall S. Kates Professor of English and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, and consulting curator Ann Shumard, the National Portrait Gallery’s senior curator of photographs. To mark the beginning of the Juneteenth holiday weekend, the exhibition will open June 16 in the museum’s One Life Gallery on the second floor. It will remain on view until April 21, 2024.
Media RSVP is required to attend; RSVP to Gabbie Obusek at obusekge@si.edu.
# # #
SI-182-2023
