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Frederick Douglass: The Most Photographed American of the 19th Century

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When he wasn’t out confronting slavery, the great social reformer was a photography fanboy from the technology's earliest days. A new book reveals his unique portrait collection.

William Boot

Published Nov. 15 2015 12:01AM EST

galleries/2015/11/15/frederick-douglass-the-most-photographed-american-of-the-19th-century/151114-frederick-douglas-tease_r5u7jl — Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

galleries/2015/11/15/frederick-douglass-the-most-photographed-american-of-the-19th-century/151106-Frederick-Douglas-01_xlhklf — Frederick Douglass, quite possibly the most notable American abolitionist, was also an avid lover of photography. During the Civil War, he often wrote about the medium and frequented studios, sitting for portraits whenever he was able. As a result, there’s an extensive visual record of his life: more than 160 unique photographs—more than Lincoln, Twain, Custer, and Whitman.

All of these portraits—showing Douglass from age 23 to his deathbed—are now available in the new book Picturing Frederick Douglass: An Illustrated Biography of the Nineteenth Century's Most Photographed American through Liveright Publishing.

Here, Douglass poses at Niagara Falls, New York, in August 1884. Albumen print.
Unknown Photographer/NPS

galleries/2015/11/15/frederick-douglass-the-most-photographed-american-of-the-19th-century/151106-Frederick-Douglas-03_f0xect — Plate 1 (cat #1) c. 1841. Sixth-plate daguerreotype
Unknown Photographer/Collection of Greg French

galleries/2015/11/15/frederick-douglass-the-most-photographed-american-of-the-19th-century/151106-Frederick-Douglas-04_rbe2n7 — Plate 19 (cat. #10). c. 1855.
Unknown Photographer/Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

galleries/2015/11/15/frederick-douglass-the-most-photographed-american-of-the-19th-century/151106-Frederick-Douglas-05_hjdegv — Bust portrait of Frederick Douglass as a young man from a daguerreotype image, ca. 1848
Edward White Gallery

galleries/2015/11/15/frederick-douglass-the-most-photographed-american-of-the-19th-century/151106-Frederick-Douglas-06_nllelq — Plate 32 (cat. #61), April 26, 1870
George Francis Schrieber/Library of Congress

galleries/2015/11/15/frederick-douglass-the-most-photographed-american-of-the-19th-century/151106-Frederick-Douglas-07_p38yoe — Plate 38B, Harper's Weekly cover, November 24, 1883
Unknown Artist

galleries/2015/11/15/frederick-douglass-the-most-photographed-american-of-the-19th-century/151106-Frederick-Douglas-08_ph3kwd — Plate 39 (cat. #79) January 26, 1874. Cabinet Card
Rochgester Public Library

galleries/2015/11/15/frederick-douglass-the-most-photographed-american-of-the-19th-century/151106-Frederick-Douglas-09_skbrcu — Plate 57 (cat. #148) May 10, 1894.
Denis Bourdon/Notman Photographic Comapy

William Boot

William Boot

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