Ezra Greenleaf Weld facts for kids

Weld daguerreotype taken at the 1850 Fugitive Slave Convention, Cazenovia, New York. The Edmonson sisters are standing wearing bonnets and shawls in the row behind the seated speakers. Frederick Douglass is seated, with Gerrit Smith standing behind him.

Ezra Greenleaf Weld (born October 26, 1801 – died October 14, 1874) was a talented photographer. People often called him "Greenleaf." He ran a photography studio in Cazenovia, New York. His family was deeply involved in the abolitionist movement, working to end slavery.

Greenleaf Weld's Family

Greenleaf Weld was part of the well-known Weld Family. His brother was Theodore Dwight Weld, who was a very important leader in the movement to end slavery. The Weld family believed strongly that slavery was wrong and worked hard to stop it.

His Life Story

Ezra Greenleaf Weld was born in Hampton, Connecticut. In 1825, his family moved to Pompey, New York. He married Mary Ann Parker in 1827. Sadly, Mary died a few years later. Ezra then moved to Cazenovia and married Deborah Richmond Wood in 1840. They had four children together.

His Photography Work

Greenleaf Weld started his first photography studio in his home in 1845. He used a special early photography method called a daguerreotype. A daguerreotype was one of the first ways to create a permanent photograph. It made a detailed image on a silver-coated copper plate.

Famous Daguerreotype

In 1850, an important meeting took place in Cazenovia. It was called the Fugitive Slave Convention. This meeting brought together many people who wanted to end slavery. Weld had a special chance to photograph some famous abolitionists there.

He took a picture of the amazing speaker Frederick Douglass with the Edmonson sisters. This photograph was very special. It was one of the few pictures of Douglass that still exists today. It is also unique because it was taken outdoors at a meeting, not in a studio.

Taking outdoor daguerreotypes was very difficult. The camera needed a long time to capture the image. This made it hard to get a clear picture if people moved. But Weld succeeded in taking this important group photo.

Weld's Photography Business

Greenleaf Weld's photography business was very successful. By 1851, he moved his studio to a new, larger space. He even added a skylight to get the best natural light for his pictures.

He offered to make "Miniatures" (small portraits) that could be put into rings, pins, or lockets. During the American Civil War, he took many pictures around Cazenovia. Later, his son, Albert Weld, joined the business. They renamed the company "E. G. Weld and Son." Ezra Greenleaf Weld passed away in Cazenovia in 1874.]