Frederick Douglass with the Edmonson Sisters at Fugitive Slave Law Convention, Cazenovia, New York

Object Details

Artist

Ezra Greenleaf Weld, 26 Oct 1801 - 14 Oct 1874

Sitter

Frederick Douglass, Feb 1818 - 20 Feb 1895

Gerrit Smith, 6 Mar 1797 - 28 Dec 1874

Emily Catherine Edmonson, 1835 - 1895

Mary Edmonson, 1832 - 1853

Theodosia Gilbert Chaplin, 1819 - 1855

Exhibition Label

In 1850, as Congress considered passage of a harsh new Fugitive Slave Law, more than two thousand people heeded the call of abolitionist Gerrit Smith (standing, center) to meet in Cazenovia, New York, and protest the impending legislation. Among the participants were Emily and Mary Edmondson (in plaid shawls), whose freedom had been purchased by abolitionists in 1848, and Frederick Douglass (seated, center right), who served as the convention’s presiding officer. On the gathering’s second day, the overflowing crowd moved from its initial meeting place in a church to a nearby orchard. There, a local daguerreotypist, Ezra Greenleaf Weld, made this extraordinary record of the convention.

En 1850, mientras el Congreso consideraba aprobar una nueva y severa Ley de Esclavos Fugitivos, más de 2,000 personas acudieron al llamado del abolicionista Gerrit Smith (de pie, al centro) para reunirse en Cazenovia, Nueva York, y protestar contra la inminente legislación. Entre los participantes estaban Emily y Mary Edmondson (con chales a cuadros), cuya libertad habían comprado los abolicionistas en 1848, y Frederick Douglass (sentado, derecha), quien presidió la convención. En el Segundo día, el público se desbordaba en la iglesia designada para la reunión y tuvieron que mudarse a un huerto cercano. Allí, Ezra Greenleaf Weld, daguerrotipista local, captó esta extraordinaria imagen.

Credit Line

Owner: Mr. & Mrs. Set Charles Momjian

1850

Object number

L/NPG.19.95

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Photograph

Medium

Half-plate copy daguerreotype

Dimensions

Image: 11.2 x 9.8 cm (4 7/16 x 3 7/8")

Case Open: 15.2 x 24.4 x 1.3 cm (6 x 9 5/8 x 1/2")

See more items in

Catalog of American Portraits

Catalog of American Portraits

Topic

Exterior

Cased object

Gerrit Smith: Male

Gerrit Smith: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer

Gerrit Smith: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Social reformer

Gerrit Smith: Social Welfare and Reform\Philanthropist

Gerrit Smith: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\New York

Gerrit Smith: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Social reformer\Civil rights activist\Abolitionist

Gerrit Smith: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Temperance reformer

Frederick Douglass: Male

Frederick Douglass: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer

Frederick Douglass: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Educator\Lecturer

Frederick Douglass: Arts and Culture\Journalism and Media\Newspaper publisher

Frederick Douglass: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister

Frederick Douglass: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Social reformer\Civil rights activist\Abolitionist

Frederick Douglass: Law and Crime\Enslaved person

Emily Catherine Edmonson: Female

Emily Catherine Edmonson: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Social reformer\Civil rights activist\Abolitionist

Mary Edmonson: Female

Mary Edmonson: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Social reformer\Civil rights activist\Abolitionist

Theodosia Gilbert Chaplin: Female

Theodosia Gilbert Chaplin: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Social reformer\Civil rights activist\Abolitionist

Portrait

Record ID

npg_L_NPG.19.95

Metadata Usage (text)

Not determined

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm41cb9a318-5253-4785-8ab8-b76155a5a546