John J. Smith — Smith, Hamilton Sutton

John J. Smith

Discover John J. Smith portrait – a striking 19th-century daguerreotype by Hamilton Sutton Smith. Explore this formal Victorian image of an abolitionist leader & his captivating story.


Smith, Hamilton Sutton (1857 - 1924)

Hamilton Sutton Smith (1857-1924) était un photographe américain célèbre pour ses images de Washington, D.C. et ses portraits de famille. Explorez son œuvre capturant l'histoire et la vie locale.

Musée de l’histoire afro-américaine (Boston, États-Unis)

Découvrez l'histoire afro-américaine de Boston au musée ! Explorez les mouvements abolitionnistes et la vie du XIXe siècle à travers des expositions captivantes. Une institution essentielle pour comprendre notre patrimoine culturel.

John J. Smith (1820-1906), born free in Richmond, Virginia, moved to Boston in 1848, joined the antislavery movement, and opened a barbershop. His business became a gathering place for self-liberated people and abolitionists including Charles Sumner, William Lloyd Garrison, and Lewis Hayden. During the Civil War, Smith worked as a recruiter for the 5th Cavalry in Washington, DC. Smith returned to Boston after the Civil War. Elected first in 1863, he served three terms in the Massachusetts Legislature and was elected to the Boston Common Council. Smith also helped other blacks attain elected and appointed government positions.