You might have seen in the news recently that a rare daguerreotype of Civil War activist and abolitionist John Brown was purchased by an unidentified buyer at auction. Portrait of John Brown was acquired by the Nelson-Atkins through the generosity of the Hall Family Foundation (a la Hallmark Photography Collection and Hallmark Cards, Inc.).
The work is one of only six known daguerreotypes taken of Brown and is possibly the earliest, ca. 1846-1847. The image was captured by Augustus Washington, one of a few African-Americans daguerreotypists at the time.
Brown's portrait joins the Museum's photography collection, which is considered to be one of the broadest and most definitive holdings of 19th-century American photography, with a particular strength in daguerreotypes.
Portrait of John Brown will be on view in March 2008. Before then, be sure to visit the featured exhibition Developing Greatness: The Origins of American Photography, 1839-1885 on view through December 30 to get a look at some of the first photographic images ever created.