The most photographed American of the 19th century had ties to New Bedford

Seth Chitwood, Standard-Times
·2 min read
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NEW BEDFORD – Frederick Douglass is called a social reformer, abolitionist, writer, statesman and now the most photographed American of the 19th century.

According to the American Writers Museum, his portrait was taken over 160 times, in sittings across the country.

Douglass is a large part of New Bedford's history. He arrived in 1838, as a fugitive slave, and with the help of Nathan and Polly Johnson, he and his family were able to find success in the whaling city.

This undated file image shows African-American social reformer, abolitionist and writer Frederick Douglass. Douglass was the country's most famous black man of the Civil War era, a conscience of the abolitionist movement and beyond and a popular choice for summing up American ideals, failings and challenges. His withering 1852 oration in Rochester, New York, ranks high in the canon of American oratory and is still widely cited as a corrective to the day’s celebratory spirit.

In a previous Standard-Times interview Lee Blake, president of the New Bedford Historical Society, said “Douglass really recognizes that photography had the power to show the humanity of African Americans and other people of color."

According to Blake, the racial discussion in America was based on the discriminatory photos of slaves and African Americans depicted as either dirty or in rags. People would look at photos and assume by their appearance they weren’t serious or very intelligent.

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Blake says in all of Douglass' photos he was always was well-dressed and positioned stoically in photos. “He understood that, so he was very particular about how his image was shown,” Blake added.

In the photos, Douglass also never let people see his hands nor smiled. "He wanted people to see him as serious and determined," Blake added.

Frederick Douglass (Ben Vereen), left, with Jay (Nyambi Nyambi), right, in the Paramount+ series, "The Good Fight."
Frederick Douglass (Ben Vereen), left, with Jay (Nyambi Nyambi), right, in the Paramount+ series, "The Good Fight."

In July 2021, Tony Award-Winner Ben Vereen portrayed Frederick Douglass in multiple episodes of "The Good Fight" on CBS All Access.

“It’s my honor to play Frederick Douglass," Vereen said to the Standard-Times.

"He was one of those strengths that would not be held in bondage and who said, ‘I am free because God made me free. I deserve an education. You can't teach me, my father, God, will teach me’ and he taught himself to read and taught himself to write.”

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A statue of Douglass will be unveiled as part of New Bedford's Abolition Row Park, a soon-to-be constructed area to highlight the local history of the anti-slavery movement and the abolitionists who lived along Seventh Street.

This is an undated photo shows abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
This is an undated photo shows abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

On the AMW museum website, visitors can see some of the 160 photos of Douglass in the rotating gallery. Created by Proun Design is a mosaic of the famed abolitionist.

The museum invites guests to create their own in the “Agitate Yourself” activity section.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Frederick Douglass; most photographed American of the 19th century