Front caption: “Our Protection/ Rosa, Charley, Rebecca/ Slave Children from New Orleans.” Back-mark information:  “No. 9/ 1864/ The nett proceeds from the sale of these Photographs will be devoted to the education of colored people in the department of the Gulf, now under the command of General Banks./ Chas. Paxson, Photographer, NY/ N.B.—All orders must be addressed to H.N. Bent, No. 1 Mercer St., NY.”

This studio image poses three young children draped in the folds of  a huge U.S. flag. The children exhibit “white” features, in illustration of the “one drop of blood rule” that governed racial classification the ante-bellum south.

By December of 1863, much of Louisiana was occupied by the Union army. Ninety-five schools serving over 9,500 students--including almost half of the black children in Louisiana--were running under its auspices (Clinton 58). But keeping these schools up and running would require ongoing financial support. Toward this end, the National Freedman's Association, in collaboration with the American Missionary Association and interested officers of the Union Army, launched a new propaganda campaign. Five children and three adults, all former slaves from New Orleans, were sent to the North on a publicity tour. A drawing of them was printed in the 30 January 1864 issue of the popular Harper's Weekly, bearing the intriguing caption: "EMANCIPATED SLAVES, WHITE AND COLORED." The authors of this campaign were pursuing a surprising, and quite effective, strategy for arousing sympathy for blacks - they portrayed them as white.

The image exhibits light wear & has been clipped at the upper corners, while remaining crisp and clear. Else VG. A magnificent collectible.