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First Colored Senator and Representatives

First Colored Senator and Representatives
Artist
Currier & Ives Lithography Company, active 1857 - 1907
Sitter
Hiram Rhoades Revels, 27 Sep 1827 - 16 Jan 1901
Benjamin Sterling Turner, 1825 - 1894
Josiah T. Walls, 1842 - 1905
Joseph Harvey Rainy, 1832 - 1887
R. Brown Elliot, 1842 - 1884
Robert Carlos De Large, 1842 - 14 Feb 1874
Jefferson Franklin Long, 3 Mar 1836 - 5 Feb 1900
Date
1872
Type
Print
Medium
Lithograph on paper
Dimensions
Image: 22 x 32cm (8 11/16 x 12 5/8")
Sheet: 30.2 × 37.8cm (11 7/8 × 14 7/8")
Mat: 40.6 x 55.9cm (16 x 22")
Topic
Printed Material\Papers
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Beard
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Muttonchops
Hiram Rhoades Revels: Male
Hiram Rhoades Revels: Politics and Government\US Senator\Mississippi
Hiram Rhoades Revels: Religion and Spirituality\Clergy\Pastor
Hiram Rhoades Revels: Politics and Government\State Senator\Mississippi
Benjamin Sterling Turner: Male
Josiah T. Walls: Male
Joseph Harvey Rainy: Male
R. Brown Elliot: Male
Robert Carlos De Large: Male
Robert Carlos De Large: Politics and Government\State Legislator\South Carolina
Robert Carlos De Large: Politics and Government\US Congressman\South Carolina
Robert Carlos De Large: Law and Crime\Magistrate
Jefferson Franklin Long: Male
Jefferson Franklin Long: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Activist\Civil rights activist
Jefferson Franklin Long: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Georgia
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.80.195
Exhibition Label
As Reconstruction transformed the political landscape of the postwar South, African American legislators began representing many former Confederate states in Congress by the early 1870s. This popular commemorative print celebrates the seven Black men—all Republicans—who served in the 41st and 42nd Congress of the United States (1869–71 and 1871–73).
Hiram Revels (1827–1901), depicted at the far left, was the first Black member of the U.S. Senate, representing Mississippi from 1870 to 1871. Beside him, from left to right, are members of the House of Representatives, including Benjamin Turner (1825– 1894) of Alabama, Robert De Large (1842–1874) of South Carolina, Josiah Walls (1842–1905) of Florida, Jefferson Long (1836–1900) of Georgia, and Joseph Rainey (1832–1887) and Robert Elliott (1842–1884) of South Carolina. Although they faced discrimination in Congress, these individuals worked to expand educational and economic opportunities for African Americans.
A medida que la Reconstrucción transformaba el panorama político del sur en la posguerra, ya para la década de 1870 había en el Congreso legisladores afroamericanos representando a antiguos estados confederados. Esta popular estampa conmemora a siete hombres negros, todos republicanos, que sirvieron en los Congresos número 41 y 42 de EE.UU. (1869–71 y 1871–73).
Hiram Revels (1827–1901), en el extremo izquierdo, fue el primer senador negro de la nación y representó a Misisipi de 1870 a 1871. Junto a él, de izquierda a derecha, están los siguientes miembros de la Cámara de Representantes: Benjamin Turner (1825–1894) de Alabama; Robert De Large (1842– 1874) de Carolina del Sur; Josiah Walls (1842–1905) de Florida; Jefferson Long (1836–1900) de Georgia; y Joseph Rainey (1832–1887) y Robert Elliott (1842–1884) de Carolina del Sur. Aunque enfrentaron discriminación en el Congreso, estas personas trabajaron por ampliar las oportunidades educativas y económicas de los afroamericanos.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Exhibition
Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900
On View
NPG, East Gallery 123