Important Daguerreotype, Tintype, Etc. of Patty Atavis, Baltimore Slave of Dr. John Whitridge

September 17, 2011 Maryland Auction

Lot #: 284

Price Realized: $34,500.00 (Price includes 15% buyer's premium).

Rare and Important Lot of African-American Slave Items Including a Tintype, Daguerreotype, and Documents Relating to Baltimore Slave to the Family of Dr. John Whitridge, Martha Ann "Patty" Atavis (about 1816-1874), tintype depicting Patty in striped dress with elaborate collar, gazing at the camera and holding a Whitridge girl in her lap. The Whitridge girl, presumably Alice Whitridge, born in 1846 and later married to Douglas Hamilton Thomas, smiles shyly at the camera with one arm around the neck of Patty. The haziness to the girl's arm suggests that she was restless, and Patty's right hand clasped around the girl's wrist implies she was trying to hold the girl still while the photograph was being taken. Pinkish hand-coloring to cheeks of Patty and the girl. The daguerreotype included in this lot depicts Patty in fancy dress, seated in a chair, her arm resting on a table. A piece of paper included with the daguerreotype reads "Martha Anna Atavis / generally known as / 'Patty' / died Feb 26th 1874 / 58 years old / over 36 / years the devoted nurse / in the family of / Dr. John Whitridge of / Baltimore." Also included in this lot is Patty’s bill of sale. Front of bill reads, “Bill of Sale of female slave from Ruth McCubbin Adminx of Wm McCubbin to John Whitridge.” Bill reads:

Know all men by these presents, that I, Ruth McCubbin, of Baltimore county, in the state of Maryland, administratrix of William McCubbin, late of said county deceased, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars, lawful money of the United States, to be paid by John Whitridge, of the City of Baltimore, in the State aforesaid, at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof if hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold and conveyed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, convey & confirm unto the said John Whitridge his executors, adminstrators, and assigns, a negress or female negro, slave for life, named Patty of the age of twenty three years or thereabouts, now in the possession of said Whitridge, at or in his dwelling house in Gay Street, in the city aforesaid. To Have and to Hold the said negress unto the said John Whitridge, his executors, administrators and assigns as a slave, for and during the term of her natural life. In testimony whereof the said Ruth McCubbin has herewith set her hand & seal on this eight day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.Signed, sealed & Ruth {her mark} McCubbin SEAL
delivered in presence
of Edward Hinkley.

Additionally included in this lot are three wills from John Whitridge, one of which references Patty, stating "Lastly! It is my will that my servant woman Patty, after my death and after the death of my wife, shall have the Priviledge of Liveing with which one my children she may prefer". A fourth document in this lot states, "The sum of $1.00 to be paid yearly to my servant Patty during her life". A fifth document included in this lot is a pair of 1858 letters written on a single piece of paper by Alice Whitridge and Thomas Whitridge. Thomas states "Anna & Patty have both gained flesh and are in good condition," evidently referring to a period when Patty was ill.

This lot is possibly one of the most important groupings of slavery-related Americana to come to auction anywhere recently. Early photographs of African-American slaves with detailed documentation of the individual pictured are exceptionally rare. Provenance: Recently discovered among objects from the Whitridge family of Baltimore, MD. Tintype in excellent condition. Daguerreotype in excellent condition with some wear to case. Original fold marks, and some typical flaws to documents. One will with John Whitridge autograph clipped. Dimensions of tintype (including case): 4 1/4" x 3 1/2". Dimensions of daguerreotype (including case): 3 3/4" x 3 1/4".