In brief
In a decisive moment that brings closure to a prolonged legal dispute led by Tamara Lanier, Harvard University has agreed to transfer daguerreotypes—some of the oldest known photographs of enslaved individuals in the United States—to the International African American Museum in South Carolina. These images, depicting individuals who were enslaved, were taken in 1850 and feature figures identified as Alfred, Delia, Jack, and Renty. The settlement, celebrated by Lanier, highlights the ongoing dialogue about the ethical responsibilities of institutions regarding their historical ties to slavery.
The daguerreotypes, discovered in 1976 at Harvard's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, were previously linked to the discredited research of Harvard professor Louis Agassiz, who promoted harmful racial theories. Initially, Lanier's legal action focused on claiming ownership of these images, arguing they were captured without consent and with the university profiting from their use. Although she faced challenges in proving her descent from the individuals depicted, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recognized Harvard's role in the traumatic history surrounding these photos. With the imminent transfer, the museum aims to display the images with necessary context, facilitating important conversations about enslavement's lasting impacts in America.The president of the International African American Museum expressed commitment to handling these images with "truth and empathy," ensuring that the stories behind them are not forgotten, but rather serve to educate and provoke necessary discussions on race and history.
