A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN photograph of Harriet Tubman (c. 1822-1913) depicts her seated with her arm draped over the back of a chair. Impeccably dressed, she wears a full skirt and buttoned bodice with detailed stitching on the sleeves. Believed to be the earliest image of Tubman in existence, the portrait of the storied abolitionist dates from circa 1868-69. She’s in her mid 40s and, gazing past the viewer, her expression conveys both pride and dignity. The photograph is contained in a photo album that belonged to Emily Howland (1827–1929), a white Quaker who taught African American children during the Civil War era. Two years ago, the embossed leather-bound volume was acquired jointly by the Library of Congress and Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). “This photo album allows us to see Harriet Tubman in a riveting, new way; other iconic portraits present her as either stern or frail,” Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of NMAAHC, said in a statement. “This new photograph shows her relaxed and very stylish. …Her posture and facial expression remind us that historical figures are far more complex than we realize. This adds significantly to what we know about this … Continue reading Early Photograph of Harriet Tubman Displayed Publicly for First Time at Smithsonian African American Museum