Harvard Transfers 1850 Daguerreotypes of Enslaved People to International African American Museum After Legal Battle

1850 photos of enslaved people head to South Carolina museum

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Descendants of a father and daughter featured in what are believed to be the first photographs taken of enslaved people say they are happy their family members are finally going back to South Carolina.

Harvard Turns Over First US Photos of Enslaved People to South Carolina Museum

Harvard has turned over what are believed to be the first photographs taken of enslaved people in the U.S. to a South Carolina museum after a settlement was reached last year under which the university agreed to give up ownership of the images. An enslaved father and his daughter were forced to be photographed in 1850 for a racist study by a professor trying to prove the inferiority of Black people. In May 2025, Harvard agreed to give up ownersh…

Historic 1850 Daguerreotypes of Enslaved People Returning to South Carolina - The MinorityEye

South Carolina will soon become the new home for a set of historically significant photographs known as the 1850 daguerreotypes, believed to be the earliest

Historic images to return at new home at Charleston’s IAAM

MORNING HEADLINES  | The International African American Museum is the new steward of images from 1850 that are believed to be the earliest known photos of enslaved Americans.  The post Historic images to return at new home at Charleston’s IAAM appeared first on Charleston City Paper.

Historic Slavery Photos Get ‘Final Resting Place’ After Long Fight With Harvard

CHARLESTON, S.C. — What are believed to be the earliest known photographs of enslaved Americans are images of a father, Renty, and his daughter Delia that were commissioned in 1850 and used to advance a professor’s racist theories.

After legal battle with Harvard, woman’s quest to reclaim images of enslaved ancestors culminates in public museum display - The Boston Globe

The seven daguerreotypes, the earliest known images of enslaved people in the United States, will be unveiled Wedneday at the International African American Museum in Charleston, S.C.