Top of page

Photo, Print, Drawing [Portrait of John Willis Menard] / Swymmer & Leeson, no. 129 Canal Street, Touro Buildings, New Orleans.

View Enlarged Image
[ digital file from original, front ]

More Resources

View Enlarged Image
[ digital file from original, back ]

About this Item

Title

  • [Portrait of John Willis Menard] / Swymmer & Leeson, no. 129 Canal Street, Touro Buildings, New Orleans.

Summary

  • Photograph shows a head-and-shoulders portrait of political activist and author John Willis Menard (1838-1893). In 1868 Menard became the first African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District. The election results were contested by his opponent, Caleb S. Hunt, resulting in Congress denying Menard his seat. However, on February 27, 1869, Menard did become the first African American to address the chamber. When the House Committee on Elections could not make a final determination on the election challenge, the case went before the entire House of Representatives who, on February 27, 1869 suspended its rules to allow both Menard and Hunt to address the chamber. Only Menard spoke. After debating the issue, neither Menard nor Hunt could gain enough support to be seated. The vote for Hunt was 41 in favor to 137 against. For Menard, it was 57 in favor and 130 against. Congressman and future president James A. Garfield, is reputed to have said that "'it was too early" for an African American to be admitted to Congress. (Source: NMAAHC)

Names

  • Leeson, W. H. (William H.), photographer

Created / Published

  • [New Orleans, Louisiana] ; [W.H. Leeson], [between 1868 and 1870]

Headings

  • -  Menard, John Willis,--1838-1893

Headings

  • Albumen prints--1860-1870.
  • Cartes de visite--1860-1870.
  • Portrait photographs--1860-1870.

Genre

  • Portrait photographs--1860-1870
  • Albumen prints--1860-1870
  • Cartes de visite--1860-1870

Notes

  • -  Title devised by Library staff.
  • -  "J. Willis Menard" written on front of photograph.
  • -  The photographers backmark is altered. The name "Swymmer" and the street address has been crossed out in pen.
  • -  "167 Poydras Street," another Swymmer and Leeson studio location (between 1868 and 1869) is written in ink on back of the card.
  • -  "Swymmer & Leeson" on album page below photograph.
  • -  Photograph is housed in an album. Album page has a double lined border, printed in red ink surrounding the edges of the card, framing the print.
  • -  Collection of the Library of Congress and the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
  • -  Purchased by the Library of Congress and the National Museum of African American History and Culture; Swann Galleries; 2017.
  • -  Formerly owned by Emily Howland.
  • -  Forms part of the Emily Howland photograph album, p. 37.

Medium

  • 1 photograph : albumen print on card mount ; mount 10 x 6 cm (carte de visite format)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • LOT 15020, p. 37 [P&P]

Source Collection

  • Emily Howland photograph album

Repository

Digital Id

  • ppmsca 54206 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.54206
  • ppmsca 54207 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.54207

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2018645035

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-ppmsca-54206 (digital file from original item, front) LC-DIG-ppmsca-54207 (digital file from original item, back)

Rights Advisory

  • No known restrictions on publication.

Access Advisory

  • Please use the digital image in the online catalog to preserve the original photograph.

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

  • Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
  • Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-54206 (digital file from original item, front) LC-DIG-ppmsca-54207 (digital file from original item, back)
  • Call Number: LOT 15020, p. 37 [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: Please use the digital image in the online catalog to preserve the original photograph.

Obtaining Copies

If an image is displaying, you can download it yourself. (Some images display only as thumbnails outside the Library of Congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site.)

Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

  1. If a digital image is displaying: The qualities of the digital image partially depend on whether it was made from the original or an intermediate such as a copy negative or transparency. If the Reproduction Number field above includes a reproduction number that starts with LC-DIG..., then there is a digital image that was made directly from the original and is of sufficient resolution for most publication purposes.
  2. If there is information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can use the reproduction number to purchase a copy from Duplication Services. It will be made from the source listed in the parentheses after the number.

    If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of the original in color by citing the Call Number listed above and including the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

  3. If there is no information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can generally purchase a quality copy through Duplication Services. Cite the Call Number listed above and include the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

Price lists, contact information, and order forms are available on the Duplication Services Web site.

Access to Originals

Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm.

  1. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)

    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
      As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)
    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.

  2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

    • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.
    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
  3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and 5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Leeson, W. H, photographer. Portrait of John Willis Menard / Swymmer & Leeson, no. 129 Canal Street, Touro Buildings, New Orleans. , None. [New orleans, louisiana ; w.h. leeson, between 1868 and 1870] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2018645035/.

APA citation style:

Leeson, W. H., photographer. Portrait of John Willis Menard / Swymmer & Leeson, no. 129 Canal Street, Touro Buildings, New Orleans. , None. [New orleans, louisiana ; w.h. leeson, between 1868 and 1870] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2018645035/.

MLA citation style:

Leeson, W. H, photographer. Portrait of John Willis Menard / Swymmer & Leeson, no. 129 Canal Street, Touro Buildings, New Orleans. [New orleans, louisiana ; w.h. leeson, between 1868 and 1870] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2018645035/>.