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

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.

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Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

By William Boot
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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

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Plate 1 (cat #1) c. 1841. Sixth-plate daguerreotype

Unknown Photographer/Collection of Greg French

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Plate 19 (cat. #10). c. 1855.

Unknown Photographer/Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

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Bust portrait of Frederick Douglass as a young man from a daguerreotype image, ca. 1848

Edward White Gallery

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Plate 32 (cat. #61), April 26, 1870

George Francis Schrieber/Library of Congress

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Plate 38B, Harper's Weekly cover, November 24, 1883

Unknown Artist

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Plate 39 (cat. #79) January 26, 1874. Cabinet Card

Rochgester Public Library

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Plate 57 (cat. #148) May 10, 1894.

Denis Bourdon/Notman Photographic Comapy

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