Augustus Washington Facts for Kids

Augustus Washington (born around 1820 – died June 7, 1875) was an American photographer. He was especially known for making daguerreotypes, which were early types of photographs. He was born in New Jersey as a free person of color, meaning he was not enslaved. In 1852, he moved to Liberia, a country in West Africa. He is one of the few African-American daguerreotypists whose life and work are well-known today.

Augustus Washington's Early Life
Moving to Liberia
Photography in Liberia
Portraits of Leaders
The Reality Behind the Images
Later Life and Politics
Works
See also

Augustus Washington's Early Life

Augustus Washington was born in Trenton, New Jersey. His mother died when he was young. He studied at the Oneida Institute in Whitesboro, New York, and later at the Kimball Union Academy. In 1843, he started college at Dartmouth College.

To help pay for his studies, he learned how to make daguerreotypes during his first year. However, he had to leave Dartmouth College in 1844 because of growing debts. He then moved to Hartford, Connecticut. There, he taught black students at a local school. In 1846, he also opened his own studio for making daguerreotypes.

Moving to Liberia

In 1852, Washington decided to leave his home in Hartford, Connecticut. He wanted to move to Liberia in West Africa. It took him a year to save enough money for the trip. In 1853, he moved with his wife, Cordelia, and their two young children.

Washington wanted to join many other African Americans in Liberia. They hoped to build a new free black nation in Africa. Here, they would not face unfair treatment and would have equal rights. The American Colonization Society helped African Americans move to Liberia. This group also helped fund the new colony.

Washington hoped to create a new country for African Americans. However, at that time, many people, including Washington, had views that are now seen as unfair. He thought that the native Africans already living in Liberia needed "civilization" and Western religion. This shows how the idea of moving to Liberia was part of a larger colonial way of thinking.

Photography in Liberia

In 1853, Washington opened a daguerreotype studio in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. He also traveled to nearby countries like Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Senegal. His daguerreotypes were very important for Liberia. They helped show the progress of the new country. These photos were for people in Liberia and for audiences in Western countries.

The American Colonization Society even asked him to take many pictures. These photos helped show an ideal image of Liberia. They were used to encourage people in the United States to consider moving to Africa. Washington's Liberian portraits often showed important and wealthy members of the colony. He carefully posed them to highlight their nice clothes, decorations, and confident looks.

Portraits of Leaders

Besides taking pictures of the upper and middle classes, Washington also photographed many of Liberia's political leaders. These included the President, Stephen Allen Benson, and the Vice President, Beverly Page Yates. He also photographed senators and other government officials.

The objects in these portraits were chosen carefully. For example, papers on desks or expensive furniture had special meaning. They were all meant to make the new Liberian government look strong and legitimate to the public.

The Reality Behind the Images

While his photographs were very important for creating an image of the new African colony, they were just that: an image. Washington's portraits showed an idealized vision of the colony. They did not always show the full reality. As one writer, Shawn Michelle Smith, explained, Washington's portraits "project a nation yet to come." This means they showed a nation that was still being built and hoped for.

After many years of taking photos, Washington started to understand the social differences in Liberia. He saw how much the colonists depended on the native Africans for things like food and supplies. He also noticed how differently doctors and politicians treated the native Africans compared to the colonists. Washington began to feel that the colonists were not truly helping the native Africans. Instead, he felt they were continuing a harmful cycle of colonization by treating native people as outsiders.

Later Life and Politics

Washington eventually stopped his photography work. He became a sugarcane farmer on the banks of the Saint Paul River. In 1858, he began a career in politics. He served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate of Liberia. From 1865 to 1869, he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Augustus Washington died in Monrovia in 1875.