Activist Gallery

Carte-de-visite portrait of Harriet Tubman, 1868-1869. Creator: Benjamin F. Powelson

African-American anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman (c1820-1913) was born into slavery in Maryland. She escaped in 1849, became a leading Abolitionist and was active as a conductor in the Underground Railroad, the network which helped escaped slaves to reach safety. She is positioned slightly turned to the right and gazes off camera. Her right hand rests on the back of a wooden chair and her left hand rests in her lap. A patterned carpet covers the floor and the wall or drop behind her is a blank light color. Tubman wears a black bodice that buttons at the center front and has dropped sleeves with heavy ruching and ruffled details on the sleeves. There is a panel of lighter fabric around the yoke, with the upper neck the same dark color as the body of the bodice. A white lace collar with short tails is crossed and pinned at the front of her neck. Her hair is parted at the center and gathered at the nape of her neck. Tubman's full skirt is made from a light and dark patterned gingham check. It drapes slightly on the floor and hides her feet completely. The text "Harriet Tubman" is handwritten in graphite across the bottom of her skirt. The print is mounted on card stock and a double-lined red border is printed around the front edges of the card framing the print

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Charles Bradlaugh...Claiming the Right to Make the Affirmation of Allegiance..., 1880, (1901)

Charles Bradlaugh, at the Bar of the House of Commons, Claiming the Right to Make the Affirmation of Allegiance instead of taking the Oath, 1880, (1901). British free-thinker, political activist, atheist and social reformer Charles Bradlaugh (1833-1891) was elected MP for Northampton in 1880, but refused to take the oath as he was not a Christian, and was expelled from Parliament. He was re-elected and continued to be rejected until 1886 when he finally took the oath. Having taken up his seat, Bradlaugh spoke in favour of Irish Home Rule and land redistribution. He founded the National Secular Society in 1866. From "The Illustrated London News Record of the Glorious Reign of Queen Victoria 1837-1901: The Life and Accession of King Edward VII. and the Life of Queen Alexandra". [London, 1901]

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Larking with the Girls, 1906

Larking with the Girls, 1906. A cartoon featuring Prime Minister Asquith on the theme of women's suffrage. Herbert Henry Asquith (1852-1928), was a Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916. Although the majority of Liberal MPs were in favour of women's suffrage, Asquith remained a longtime opponent of it. Despite opposing women's suffrage he believed it was up to the House of Commons to decide. Asquith was a key target amongst the suffragettes, the windows of 10 Downing Street were smashed in 1908 and in 1912. From The Tatler Volume 21 [The Tatler, London, 1906]

© The Print Collector