Following a lengthy, 15-year struggle, Harvard University consented to surrender centuries-old images of enslaved individuals.
BOSTON — In an historic move, Harvard University will transfer a collection of 175-year-old photographs, believed to be the first taken of enslaved people, to the International African American Museum in South Carolina. This decision comes as part of a resolution reached with Tamara Lanier, a descendant of the subjects in the photographs, Renty and his daughter Delia.
Lanier, who resides in Connecticut, initiated a legal battle against Harvard in 2019, accusing the university of wrongfully seizing and exploiting the images of her ancestors. The suit specifically targeted Harvard's usage of Renty's image during a 2017 conference and in other instances, as well as the institution's demand for hefty licensing fees to reproduce the images.
The photographs, known as "daguerreotypes," were originally commissioned by Harvard biologist Louis Agassiz, whose theories on racial difference were used to support slavery in the U.S. According to the lawsuit, Agassiz came across Renty and Delia while searching for slaves of "pure" African descent on plantations.
For the images, both Renty and Delia were photographed shirtless from various angles, a practice that Tamara Lanier described as degrading, as it was intended to prove the subhuman status of her ancestors.
In 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled in Lanier's favor, affirming the validity of her lawsuit against Harvard after a lower court judge had initially dismissed the case. Notably, the highest court recognized Harvard's complicity in the wrongful creation of the daguerreotypes.
Tonya M. Matthews, the CEO of the International African American Museum, described Harvard's decision to relinquish the images as a significant moment, 175 years in the making. The South Carolina museum has pledged to collaborate with Lanier in deciding how the images' story will be told.
Joshua Koskoff, Lanier's attorney, emphasized the importance of moving the images away from a potentially biased institution like Harvard and into a museum committed to celebrating African American history. He highlighted the significance of allowing Lanier's family's story to be told through a more respectful and sincere platform.
Under the terms of the settlement, an undisclosed sum was paid to Lanier. However, Harvard has yet to acknowledge its historical connection to the situation or Lanier's relationship to the institution, according to Koskoff.
As the legal battle reaches its conclusion, Koskoff quoted that "the truth will find you – you can only hide from it for so long." He also noted that while history is often written by the victors, perspectives may shift, and the actions of those who perpetuated slavery may be perceived differently with time.
Willingham reports for the Associated Press.
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The case of the Renty daguerreotypes serves as a stark reminder of the past, as does the historical connection between American universities and the support of slavery. The photographs, now transferred to the International African American Museum, will be used to tell the stories of those affected by slavery, providing a more accurate representation of history.
The settlement between Tamara Lanier and Harvard University may not have explicitly acknowledged the institution's past, but the decision to transfer the daguerreotypes is a step towards justice and historical accountability. The images, which were originally intended to support theories on racial difference, will now be used to challenge those same beliefs and promote a more inclusive narrative.
As society evolves, so does our understanding of the past and our responsibility to address its wrongs. The story of Renty and Delia serves as a reminder that justice may take time, but it is ultimately seekable and attainable. The images of their ancestors may have been wrongfully taken, but their story will now be told with the respect and sincerity it deserves.
