“The First Colored Senator and Representatives in the 41st and 42nd Congress of the United States,” 1872

This 1872 portrait print published in New York by Currier and Ives depicts a group portrait of the first African-American legislators in the history of the United States Congress.

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Currier & Ives, "The first colored senator and representatives - in the 41st and 42nd Congress of the United States," 1872

Description

This 1872 portrait print published in New York by Currier and Ives depicts a group portrait of the first African-American legislators in the history of the United States Congress: Representative Robert C. De Large of South Carolina, Representative Jefferson H. Long of Georgia, Senator H.R. Revels of Mississippi, Representative Benj. S. Turner of Alabama, Representative Josiah T. Walls of Florida, Representative Joseph H. Rainy of South Carolina and Representative R. Brown Elliot of South Carolina.

Transcript of the "The First Colored Senator and Representatives in the 41st and 42nd Congress of the United States"

Source-Dependent Questions

What amendment to the U.S. Constitution made this scene possible?
How does this portrait contrast with the concerns expressed by Daniel R. Goodloe in his 1868 letter to Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner?

Citation Information

Currier & Ives, "The first colored senator and representatives - in the 41st and 42nd Congress of the United States," 1872. Courtesy of Library of Congress