A small and appealing group of studio portraits from Massachusetts and Philadelphia. Of particular note is the image of a Black woman identified only as “Sophey,” depicted among otherwise white sitters. She appears in a plaid headwrap, large earrings, and a dress trimmed at the sleeves with ruffles.

While portraits of Black nannies or servants occasionally appear within white family albums, it is quite uncommon to find images of African Americans represented independently, without their presence defined by service or enslavement. Further research may illuminate Sophey’s identity and social circumstances, but even in the absence of additional detail, her portrait stands as a rare example of African American representation in nineteenth-century studio photography.

Views include: 

1. Bust vignetted view of an older white gentleman identified as Mr. S. Watson. Boston: A. Sornel, [1864]. Photographer’s imprint and autograph to mount verso alongside 3-cent revenue stamp. Dated pencil inscription to mount verso. 

2. Bust vignetted view of a young white woman identified as Sarah Thomas. New Bedford: E.D Dunshee, n.d. Photographer’s imprint and copyright printed to mount verso. 

3. Three-quarter length seated view of a middle-aged Black woman identified as Sophey. New Bedford: Geo F. Parlow, n.d. Photographer’s imprint & copyright printed to mount verso. 

4. Three-quarter length seated view of an elderly white woman engaged in reading, identified as Nancy Maxfield. Baltimore, Maryland: Bendann Brother Galleries, n.d. Photographer’s imprint printed to mount verso. Period pencil inscription & identification to mount verso: “Nancy Maxfield/ Baltimore- 1864 / Aged 86- This was taken only a few years ()/ Sent to me by my uncle N. N Pearson./ Died in Baltimore Jan 2 1866. Mrs Ann Maxfield in the 88th year of her Age. 

5. Bust vignetted view of elderly white man identified as W. H. Hummels. Philadelphia: J.W. Hurn, n.d. Photographer’s imprint printed to mount verso. 

6. Full view studio albumen portrait of a white woman identified as Mrs. Pollard. Nantucket, Massachusetts: E.T Kelley, n.d. Photographer’s imprint printed to mount verso. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]

Note that while there are six images featured, the names “Anna Dickenson” and “F.G Hansford” are inscribed in pencil, there is no corresponding image remaining.