Hidden Witness: African American Images from the Dawn of Photography to the Civil War

by Jackie Napolean Wilson

A fascinating and invaluable compilation of rare photographs of Civil War era African-Americans provides insight into the lives people lived, showing them in daily situations and in their regular attire, and bringing the past clearly into focus.

Genres: History, Photography

144 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Tip Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the pictures and the information included to tell the story of the pictures. The pictures were great!!

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated with old photos of slaves but never really looked beyond the photo itself meaning how photos were taken and the materials that were used. The Hidden Witness is a collection of rare photographs taken of African Americans during the Civil War Era. The photographs gives a small glimpse into the their lives and how life might have been for them. It also introduces the reader to the types of photography used during that time.

[Spencer Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

👏

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a unique & really lovely collection of photos. Even though some of the original daguerreotypes are small, almost all the photos are uniformly-sized into full-page photos here; that, coupled with the high-quality print job, lets you see & appreciate the beauty & details of these early photos. There are some details available about some of the portrait subjects, but usually very little. It's too bad that the details of people's lives have been lost to the sands of history. A beautiful collection, lovingly presented.

[Veronica Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

(A+)