Description

Three-quarter length portrait of Rev. Crummell, the African American Episcopal priest, educator, missionary, and black nationalist. Crummell is attired in his clerical robes, over a vest, long sack coat, and trousers. He wears eye glasses, a beard, and holds his right hand up to his chest, holding what is possibly a pipe. Crummell, born in New York and the first African American graduate of the University of Cambridge, lived as a missionary and educator in Liberia between 1853 and 1873. He returned to the U.S. and located to Washington, D.C. where in 1875 he and his congregation founded St. Luke's Episcopal Church, the first independent black Episcopal church in the city. He spoke before the "Philadelphia Library Company" in St. Thomas's Episcopal Church about "The Natives of Africa, their Habits, Customs, Religion, and Characteristics" on December 10, 1861. Presumably, the portrait photograph was taken around this time.; Gutekunst, Photographist.; Gutekunst, a premier Philadelphia photographer, in business from 1860 until 1917, was known as a specialist in portraiture and celebrity portraiture.

Record Contributed By

The Library Company of Philadelphia

Record Harvested From

PA Digital