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mdhsphotographs:

(Top)
Martha Ann “Patty” Atavis
ca. 1840-1850
Unidentified photographer
3 3/4 x 3 1/4 inch daguerreotype
Cased Photographs Collection
Maryland Historical Society
CSPH 545

(Bottom)
Martha Ann “Patty” Atavis with Alice Lee Whitridge
ca. 1856 
Unidentified photographer
4 1/4 x 3 1 /2 inch tintype
Cased Photographs Collection 
CSPH 546 

MdHS has recently acquired the photographs above of Martha Ann “Patty” Atavis, a slave described as a nurse, owned by Dr. John Whitridge of Baltimore. The tintype shows Patty holding Alice Lee Whitridge, daughter of Dr. Whitridge. 

Photographs of identified slaves are extremely rare. MdHS is pleased to hold these two items in the collection and looking forward to further research in to the life of Patty Atavis. Patty was buried in Greenmount Cemetery, Baltimore, in the Whitridge Family plot. 

Both items along with Patty’s Bill of Sale (from Ruth McCubbin to John Whitridge) are now on display in the MdHS library exhibition cases.  

Fascinating! I cannot stop wondering what must have been going on inside Ms. Atavis’ head; all that she had been through up to this point. Can you imagine: Bill of Sale? My goodness, that part just gives me the chills, man! I live not too far from Greenmount Cemetery, which is also where John Wilkes Booth is buried. I am going to look for her plot. I feel very moved to do this.

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