African American Labor in Extractive Industry, Quarry or Mining Scene Photograph, 19th Century

African American Miners

Photograph

Albumen photograph, 19th century, depicting African American men working in a quarry or mining environment, with direct relevance to the study of labor organization, race relations, and industrial development in the post-emancipation United States. The image shows a large group of Black laborers positioned among rock formations, several holding tools such as hammers and shovels, indicating active participation in extractive work. Interspersed within the scene are white men, women, and children, including a prominently placed, well-dressed man at the center, suggesting supervisory or ownership roles and reflecting the racial hierarchy characteristic of labor systems in this period. The composition captures both the physical conditions of industrial labor and the social structure of mixed-race work environments that emerged in the decades following the Civil War.

Albumen photograph measuring approximately 8 x 6 inches, mounted on cardstock. The scene includes two small shacks and a buckwagon in the background, situating the group within a temporary or semi-permanent industrial site. The arrangement of figures, tools, and built elements provides visual context for quarry or mining operations and the organization of labor at such sites.

Mount with soiling and wear, including small tears; photograph with minor surface abrasions but image remains clear; overall very good condition. A detailed visual record of African American labor in a nineteenth-century industrial setting, documenting both work practices and social dynamics.

Item #18595

Price: $550.00