Another rare photo of Harriet Tubman has surfaced, marking the second discovery of its kind in as many months. This latest photo captures Tubman at the age of approximately 70 and was released by a Maryland tour group. Alex Green, the owner of Harriet Tubman Tours, revealed that the photo is from an edition of The Household Magazine dated 1892. In this remarkable image, Tubman is seen wearing a dark dress with a decorative collar and a hairpin. Below the photo, she is referred to as Harriet, the Modern Moses, now living in Auburn, N.Y.
Accompanying the photo is an article that includes a significant quote from Tubman regarding her teenage visit to the Bucktown General Store in Dorchester County, Maryland. It was during this visit that Tubman was deliberately struck in the head by a 2-pound weight thrown by a slaveowner at another enslaved individual. The impact resulted in a fractured skull for Tubman, leading to her experiencing epilepsy and what she believed to be spiritual visions for the rest of her life.
However, it’s worth noting that the quote included in the article utilizes plantation dialect, a style that racistly depicts the speech of Black individuals. Harriet Tubman biographer Kate Clifford Larson shared the photo on her Facebook page, describing the civil rights icon as beautiful and commenting on her impeccable style. Larson expressed gratitude to Alex Green and his wife, Lisa, for the discovery and expressed hope to find the original photo as well.
This release follows Harriet Tubman Tours’ previous unveiling of a rare photo of Tubman in December 2021. That particular photo depicted Tubman standing in front of her home on South Street in Auburn, taken in 1908. Green, the owner of Harriet Tubman Tours, has expressed his hopes that these newly discovered photos will generate increased interest in Tubman, her life, and her unwavering commitment to achieving freedom for all.
For more information and to view a gallery of Harriet Tubman photographs, please visit our website.
