Photograph of Edmund Parker Standing Guard at George Washington's Tomb
Content Description
This collection contains one photograph of Edmund Parker (1827-1898), formerly enslaved at Mount Vernon, standing guard at George Washington's Tomb circa 1890. In 1841, Parker was brought to Mount Vernon, at the age of fourteen, as one of the enslaved people owned by John Augustine Washington III. He married Susan, an enslaved woman Augustine had purchased in 1852, and the couple went on to have nineteen children, including two sets of twins. Parker fled from Mount Vernon during the Civil War, seeking refuge in Union-occupied Alexandria, Virginia. He later lived as a free man, followed by a stint in Pennsylvania, before settling back in Washington. In 1882, the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association hired him to serve as the watchman at Washington's tomb, and he served until shortly before his death in 1898.
It is an albumen photograph 61/2 by 4 1/2 mounted on thick card stock measuring 7 by 5. Edmund Parker is dressed in his customary blue uniform with a silver badge. It is an uncommon view of a much-photographed subject.
Dates
- Creation: 1890
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Biographical / Historical
Edmund Parker (1827-1898) was brought to Mount Vernon in 1841 at the age of 14, as one of the enslaved people owned by John Augustine Washington III. Parker recalled that enslavery had been "mighty hard work. Had more put on me than I could perform..." He married Susan, an enslaved woman who Augusting had purchased in 182, and the couple went on to have 19 children, including two sets of twins.
During the Civil War, Parker fled from Mount Vernon, seeking refuge in Union-occupied Alexandria, Virginia. He later lived as a free man, followed by a stint in Pennsylvania, before settling back in Washington. In 1882 he was hired by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association to serve as the watchman at Washington's Tomb, and served until shortly before his death in 1898.
Extent
.03 Cubic Feet (1 folder) : 1 photograph
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was purchased from Between the Covers by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on 10 January 2023.
Subject
- Parker, Edmund, 1827-1898 (Person)
Topical
- Title
- Photograph of Edmund Parker Standing Guard at George Washington's Tomb
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Ellen Welch
- Date
- 2023-03-20
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library Repository
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
P.O. Box 400110
University of Virginia
Charlottesville Virginia 22904-4110 United States