Description:

1866 Slavery Folk Art Story Dealing with Emancipation

This fascinating folk art volume consists of a series of twelve panels and a final drawing pasted into a small booklet. The hand-drawn images and brief captions explore the inversion of society brought about by emancipation. Together, they tell the story of the Gidder family, formerly the property of "Mrs. Pontefract," a slaveowner and member of the "First Families of Virginia." With the help of "Northern friends" Pontefract regains her fortunes, but her friend "Mrs. Skin-Petato," who has no northern friends, is ruined and forced to work as a nurse for an African American family.

The story specifically references Saratoga Springs, New York, thirty miles north of Albany that became a resort for the wealthy based around the natural mineral springs and a horse racecourse. Both Mrs. Pontefract and the Gidders go to Saratoga Springs to vacation.

Most of the black figures have extremely white teeth and wide smiles that contrast with their ink-black skin. The images reinforce racist stereotypes of former slaves in extravagant clothing who visited northern resorts with their new wealth, though they offer no indication of the source of such wealth. An "uncle" plays the banjo, and Old Dinah Gidder is "one of the old 'Aunties.'" A caption describes Samuel Gidder as a "great swell," a man who attempts to appear important or distinguished. In contrast, his daughter's new African American husband is "nothing much, pretentious but shallow."

[SLAVERY.] Booklet with Initial "G" on the cover. Ca. 1866, [New York?]. 30 pp., 5.75ʺ x 8ʺ. Disbound; some loss to front and back covers; images are ink on paper, cut out and pasted onto pages with captions.

Complete Transcript
I. Mrs. Pontefract, an aristocrat of the F.F.V.s, loses all her slaves by the War, & is reduced to want. Katey Minnie Gidder, one of her slaves, now free, comes out in great comfort.

II. Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Gidder. "Sam," one of the servants of Madame Pontefract, being emancipated, assumes a surname, and takes a wife: he becomes a great swell.

III. Minnie Gidder, daughter of "Saml. Gidder Esq. & Lady": (1) an infant, (2) infant in arms with Nurse, (3) at 6 yrs. of age (4) a school girl.

IV. Miss Minnie Gidder in society, & going to the Springs.

V. Uncle Ben Gidder entertains Mrs. Pontefract on the Banjo. Mrs. Pontefract reinstates her shattered fortunes, by going to see her Northern friends; she comes out as before.

VI. Mrs. Skin-Petato, of the F.F.Vs, a neighbour & friend of Mrs. Pontefract, is also ruined by the War. Having no Northern friends, & utterly unable to rehabilitate herself, she is compelled to go out to service & accepts a situation as child's nurse, in a branch of the Gidder connection. Sister of Mrs. Skin Petato.

VII. Old Dinah Gidder: although emancipated, she retains much of her old manner; she is one of the old "Aunties."

VIII. Miss Katey Minnie Gidder gets married; the husband is nothing much, pretentious but shallow. They have not been married long, & there is, as yet, no family.

IX. Uncle Jim Gidder.

X. Mr. Saml. Gidder’s Sister-in-Law.

XI. Aunt Patience Gidder. Poor Cousin of the Gidders: not much account.

XII. Mrs. Pontefract going to Saratoga: light summer style. Her "Great Saratoga Trunk."

A Portrait; met her in West Broadway Oct. 23d 1866.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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