2-831-848 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

A carte-de-visite portrait of Sojourner Truth, born Isabella "Belle" Baumfree (c. 1797-1883), who was an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Here she holds a daguerreotype of her grandson, James Caldwell of Co. H, 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, on her lap. She wears a dot print dress, striped jacket, dark-colored apron, a light-colored shawl over her shoulders, and a light-colored cap. She looks straight at the camera. Her proper right hand sits at her waist and her proper left hand appears to point at the daguerrotype lying open on her lap.