Sketches of the Amistad captives

Description

Title: Sketches of the Amistad captives
Creator: Townsend, William H., 1822-1851
Published / Created: [ca. 1839-1840].
Abstract: Head and shoulders portraits, some in profile. Amistad captives depicted are captioned: Grabo, Little Kale, Fargina, Sar, Bungair, Bana, Bar, Farquanar, Kimbo, Kezzuza, Fuli (a younger man), Suma, Fuli (an older man), Boro, Malhue, Saby, Marqu, Pona (profile and front view), Yuang, and two unidentified men. Accompanied by a pamphlet by J. E. Twitchell on the Amistad captives, cataloged separately
Description: The Amistad captives, Africans who were enslaved despite the abolishment of slavery throughout the Spanish dominions in 1820, revolted from their Cuban masters on board ship and ended up off the northern shore of Long Island in 1839. The captives were jailed in New Haven pending their trial to determine whether they were property. The case eventually came before the Supreme Court.
Sketches captioned in pencil.
Portrait of Grabo captioned at bottom, "The Armistad [sic] Negroes, Drawn from life, by Wm. H. Townsend."
Negatives available
Provenance: Gift of Mrs. Asa G. Dickerman, 1934.
Extent: 22 drawings (in 2 boxes and 1 portfolio) : 18.3 x 14 cm. and smaller.
Extent of Digitization: This object has been completely digitized.
Language: English

Repository: Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Call Number: GEN MSS 335
Related Resource Online: View a selection of digital images in the Beinecke Library's Digital Images Online database
Container / Volume: Box 1

Access: Public
Rights: The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.
Citation: William H. Townsend, Sketches of the Amistad Captives. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.