Daguerreotype

The Earliest-Known Photograph of a U.S. President: John Quincy Adams

A Historical Daguerreotype

In 2018, the National Portrait Gallery unveiled the oldest known photograph of a U.S. president, an 1843 daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams. This remarkable image captures a pivotal moment in both photography and American history.

Acquisition and Significance

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery acquired the March 1843 daguerreotype of President John Quincy Adams for its permanent collection. This invaluable document showcases a significant chapter in the history of photography and American politics.

John Quincy Adams: Statesman and Abolitionist

More than a decade after his presidency, Adams sat for this portrait while serving as a Massachusetts congressman. Amidst the escalating tensions leading up to the Civil War, Adams used his platform to wage a solitary battle against the institution of slavery.

The Daguerreotype Process

Photography was a relatively new medium when Adams had his portrait taken. The daguerreotype process, which exposed images on silver-coated plates, was on the cutting edge of technology for its time. Similar to President Barack Obama’s 3D-printed portrait in 2014, Adams’ daguerreotype represented the latest advancements in image-making.

Horace Everett: Recipient and Kinsman

Adams gifted the March 1843 daguerreotype to his friend and ally in Congress, Vermont Representative Horace Everett. On the paper backing, Adams inscribed a note acknowledging Everett as his “kinsman.” The photograph remained in Everett’s family for generations.

Rediscovery and Significance

In the 1990s, a great-great-grandson of Everett rediscovered the image. Through online research, he realized the significance of this family heirloom. The daguerreotype confirmed Adams’ pioneering role in the history of presidential photography.

John Quincy Adams and William Henry Harrison

While this photograph is the oldest surviving image of a U.S. president, it was not the first photo ever taken of a commander-in-chief. That honor belongs to President William Henry Harrison, whose daguerreotype was taken at the start of his brief term in office. However, only an 1850 copy of that daguerreotype exists today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Auction and Estimated Value

The John Quincy Adams daguerreotype was auctioned alongside other notable images from the 19th and 20th centuries. Sotheby’s estimated its value at $150,000 to $250,000. The proceeds were earmarked for the National Portrait Gallery’s acquisition fund.

The Americans: Robert Frank’s Iconic Work

Among the other auctioned images was a signed print of photographer Robert Frank’s iconic shot of a segregated New Orleans trolley. This image served as the cover for his influential 1958 book, “The Americans.” Frank’s work captured the complexities of American society, highlighting issues of race and inequality.

Legacy and Impact

The daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams remains an enduring symbol of his dedication to abolishing slavery and his pioneering spirit in embracing new technologies. It offers a glimpse into the early days of photography and the evolving role of presidents in shaping American history.

Historical Significance of the Daguerreotype

In the mid-19th century, a remarkable daguerreotype emerged, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of enslaved individuals and the cotton industry. Acquired by the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, this image is believed to be the earliest known photograph of enslaved African-Americans working with cotton.

The daguerreotype depicts a Georgia plantation owner posing alongside a group of enslaved individuals. Three men carry large baskets of cotton over their heads, while a young child sits on the ground nearby. A woman peers out of a doorway, and another stands at a well, staring straight ahead.

Experts believe the daguerreotype was taken in Greene County, Georgia, during the 1850s. It was likely commissioned by the plantation owner, Samuel T. Gentry, to document his prosperity and the central role of enslaved labor in his operation.

The Plight of Enslaved Individuals

The daguerreotype reveals the harsh realities of slavery in the antebellum South. The enslaved individuals depicted in the image are carrying heavy burdens, and their expressions convey a sense of weariness and resignation. The presence of a dog straining at its leash suggests the constant threat of violence that enslaved individuals faced.

While other images of enslaved people working with cotton exist, the Gentry daguerreotype is unique because it was not taken on a vast coastal plantation. Instead, it portrays a smaller-scale operation, typical of the majority of slaveholders in the South.

The Socio-Economic Context of Slavery

The daguerreotype also sheds light on the socio-economic hierarchy of the antebellum South. Samuel Gentry was not a member of the elite planter class, but he was striving to improve his status through the acquisition of land and enslaved individuals.

The prominence of enslaved African-Americans in the daguerreotype reflects the central role of slavery in the Southern economy and society. Wealth and status were often measured by the number of enslaved individuals one owned.

The Fight Against Slavery

The daguerreotype serves as a powerful reminder of the horrors of slavery. It is a testament to the resilience and suffering of enslaved individuals, as well as the fight against this oppressive institution.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum’s collection of daguerreotypes includes images of abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Lucretia Mott. These images highlight the efforts of those who worked to expose the evils of slavery and advocate for its abolition.

Preserving Historical Records

The Gentry daguerreotype is a valuable historical record that provides insights into the lives of enslaved individuals and the institution of slavery. It is a reminder of the importance of preserving such records to ensure that the horrors of the past are never forgotten.

The daguerreotype is a powerful work of art that captures both the beauty and the brutality of a bygone era. It is a testament to the enduring power of photography to document history and inspire social change.

Unveiling the Earliest-Known Photograph of a U.S. President: John Quincy Adams