This copy was originally owned by a formerly enslaved woman, Mrs. Annie Greene, who, according to the inscription, became a fashion writer in Buffalo, New York from 1890-1940. As most enslaved women were forbidden to read or own a book, Greene likely treasured this source, as it gave her not only access to vibrant illustrations and descriptions, but inspiration that drove her own economic mobility.
This copy was originally owned by a formerly enslaved woman, Mrs. Annie Greene, who, according to the inscription, became a fashion writer in Buffalo, New York from 1890-1940. As most enslaved women were forbidden to read or own a book, Greene likely treasured this source, as it gave her not only access to vibrant illustrations and descriptions, but inspiration that drove her own economic mobility.
Formerly enslaved women such as Marguerite reveal the ways that Black women fashioned themselves after emancipation. This hand-colored tintype shows the intricate features such as the variation in plaid or cross-barred pattern, the cascading layers of the skirt, and the detailed neckline and sleeves. The powerful gaze, the hand firmly anchored at the hip, offers a striking view of her sartorial personality.
Swatches sent to Lewis Tappen along with the note, “Our sales of the B. Canton negro cloth altho confined to the Southern States and a new article have been large, say 100 Bales in 3 months of goods worth from 35 to 37/100.”
Swatches sent to Lewis Tappen along with the note, “Our sales of the B. Canton negro cloth altho confined to the Southern States and a new article have been large, say 100 Bales in 3 months of goods worth from 35 to 37/100.”
On loan from the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
