Subject: Racism against Black people

This trade card advertises A. Hirshberg, a tailor located in Richmond, Virginia. The front of the card features a caricature of a Black woman who appears frazzled after a day at the beach. She is wearing a dress and a straw hat. The back of the card lists Harry Hirshberg as the salesman and the business address as 1547 Main Street. The card is approximately 4.5 inches by 2.75 inches.

This trade card advertises A. Mahrenholz, a clothier located at 523 Broadway, New York. The front of the card features a caricature of a Black man giving a speech, which is a common stereotype that reflects anti-Black racism. The back of the card is not visible in the image provided. This card is likely from the early 1890s, based on the style of the illustration. The second card, which appears to advertise 'The Broadway’ displays a man in a top hat and another with a walking stick.

This trade card advertises the Boston Clothing Co., owned by H. Feibelman, located at 40 State Street in Boston, Massachusetts. The front of the card features a humorous illustration of two Black men, one using an early telephone. One figure is seated on a chair, talking on the phone. The other figure is standing next to the seated figure. The illustration is caricatured and appears to be intended to be humorous, however the illustration uses racial stereotypes and is considered offensive. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card, printed on black paper, advertises C. L. Swartz, a clothier located at 12 South Pearl Street, Albany, New York. The front of the card features a caricature of a well-dressed man wearing pink tights and a green waistcoat. The figure appears to be a joker or clown, with exaggerated features. This image may be interpreted as a form of racist caricature. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises C. L. Swartz, a clothier located at 12 South Pearl Street, Albany, New York. The front of the card features a caricature of a Black man dressed in a top hat, with a cigar in his mouth and yellow tights. The man has a dark complexion. The card is black and is printed on heavy paper. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises the business of Chapman Raphael, a clothier located at 213 & 215 South Second Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The front of the card features a caricature of a Black man playing a horn while wearing striped pants. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises David's Prize Soap Company, located at 185 & 187 1st Avenue, New York City. The front of the card features a caricature of two African American women. The first woman holds up a basket of clothes as she tells the second woman about her chance to win a house and lot. The back of the card features a full advertisement with a list of prizes. It is unclear what, if anything, the prize soap was intended to be used for, but given the time period and subject matter, it is possible that the soap was marketed to those wanting to lighten their skin.

This trade card advertises Fleischner's and features a greeting for Thanksgiving Day 1880. The front of the card is printed in green with a black figure of a man holding a goose and a basket of food. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises Frauenthal Bros., clothing and dry goods merchants located at 25 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The card features three monkeys, one wearing a shoe, another with a hat, and a third in blue clothing. The monkeys are all holding sticks, creating a whimsical and playful scene. The design of the card is simple, featuring only a black and white image with minimal text. This card is one of three. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card for Frauenthal Bros. features a humorous illustration of three monkeys dressed in clothing. One monkey wears a pink boot and a blue hat. Another monkey stands on a stool, and the third monkey wears a pair of men's trousers in blue and blue slippers. The image may be intended as a caricature of Black people. The card appears to be part of a set of three.

This trade card advertises Friedberger & Strouse, a Philadelphia-based retailer of dress trimmings and fancy goods. The card features a black maid holding a white baby who is crying. The front of the card includes the address: 111, 113, & 115 North Eighth Street. The back of the card is blank. This trade card is problematic and insensitive due to its racialized imagery. It is also worth noting that this image was likely a common form of marketing in this period and is an important document in the history of racial representation in American advertising.

This trade card advertises J. Cohn, a clothier located at 419 & 421 Broadway in Albany, New York. The front of the card features a black-and-white caricature of a Black woman, known as a 'Mammy' figure, holding a baby while standing by a fence. The card has a brown border.

This trade card advertises J. Cohn, a clothier located at 419 & 421 Broadway, Albany, New York. The front of the card features a caricature of an elderly Black man reading a newspaper out of a window. The illustration is drawn in a humorous style and is likely intended to be humorous. The card is primarily black and brown in color, with a white border. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises Joseph Weil's clothing and furnishing goods store located at 144 Springfield Avenue, near West Street in Newark, New Jersey. The front of the card depicts a comical scene: a young Black boy in knickers is holding a baby. The image is framed by a black border. The card's back includes the notice 'Will Remove April 1' indicating a possible relocation of the business. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises Julius Meyer & Son, a dry goods and notions store located at 601 & 603 Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia. The front of the card features an illustration of a Black man looking out of a window in his apartment. The illustration is done in a stereotypical manner, with the figure rendered in a lighthearted and humorous style that is considered racist today. The back of the card contains the full advertisement for Julius Meyer & Son.

This trade card advertises Julius Meyer & Son, a Dry Goods & Notions store located at 601 & 603 Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia. The front of the card features an illustration of an African American woman looking out her apartment window. The card has a full advertisement on the back.

This trade card advertises Kaufman's, a general store located at 1241 Eleventh Street S.E. in Washington, D.C. The front of the card features a humorous illustration of two vegetable people. A black boy's head is inside a cabbage. The back of the card provides more detailed information about the business.

This is one of a set of four trade cards advertising L. Rosenbaum & Sons, a dry goods store located at 201 E. Water St., Elmira, New York. The card features a comical illustration of a school boy, depicted as a dunce, with the caption 'I Never Saw That Pin Afore'. The illustration is a racist caricature, and the boy is shown with exaggerated features and dark skin. The card is printed in black and white, and has a red border. The front of the card has the business name and address. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises L. Stern, a clothier located at 17 Canal Street, Lyons, New York. The front of the card features a black child in a caricatured style at the top, with a rabbit in the lower corner. The card is part of a series of six trade cards, and only three are pictured in this file. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises Leo Stadler, a clothier located at 104 1/2 Allen Street, Rochester, New York. The front of the card features a caricature of a Black man lying on a stone, with two children teasing him. The back of the card provides advertising for Morrison, the printer. The card's imagery can be interpreted as racially insensitive, as it uses stereotypical imagery and humor to represent Black individuals.

This trade card advertises Levi Bros., a clothing store located at 6th and South Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The front of the card features two black figures holding a sign. The image is a caricature. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises M. Goldman & Schagrin, a clothing store located at 139 Third Street, South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The card features a racist illustration of a man and woman dressed in fine clothing. The man appears to be stepping out for an evening with the woman, and they are likely wearing clothing sold by M. Goldman & Schagrin. [The card reflects the prevalence of racist imagery during the 19th century.] The card has a green border and a blue and white design. The image is printed on the front of the card and the back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises Max Stadler & Co., a clothing retailer in New York City. The front of the card depicts a comical scene of two well-dressed African American boys in a horse-drawn buggy that appears to be toppling over. The back of the card provides details about the store's locations: 42 & 44 Newark Avenue, Branch of Broadway cor. Prince St.; Eighth Avenue cor. 40th St. It also includes a full advertisement for the business.

This trade card advertises Max Stadler & Co., a clothier operating in New York City. The card lists two addresses: 565-567 Broadway, corner of Prince Street and 619-621 Eighth Avenue, corner of Fortieth Street. The card features a black man holding an advertisement out of a window, which reads, '10,000 Books Given Away with Purchase'. The background features buildings in the city. The illustration is likely intended to be humorous or satirical, and it may perpetuate racist stereotypes. The back of the card provides a full advertisement for the company.

This trade card advertises Ph. Kohn, a grocer located at 632 Larrabee Street, corner of Centre, in Chicago, Illinois. The front of the card features a caricature of a group of Black people posing for a photograph under a large, brightly colored cloud. The image is humorous and satirical, using caricatures to depict Black people in a stereotypical manner. This is a common trope in American trade cards from this era, with both overtly racist and seemingly innocuous images portraying a dehumanized and comedic view of Black people. The card has a full advertisement on the back, which is not visible in the image.

This trade card advertises Rice, Born & Co., a stove and range dealer located at 77, 79, and 81 Camp Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. The card features a cartoon of a Black woman archer, drawn in a racist caricature. The back of the card is printed with an advertisement for Cotton Plant stoves and ranges.

This trade card advertises Rosenfeld Bros. located on the corner of Baltimore Street and Market Space in Baltimore, Maryland. The card features a young boy in a police uniform standing with two young Black children. The card is predominantly green and copper in color. The back of the card is blank. The trade card likely functioned as a promotional tool for the company, though it is unclear what type of goods or services the company sold.

This trade card advertises Rosenthal's, a clothing store in San Francisco, California. The card features a caricature of two black women standing in a window. Both women are wearing a matching scarf and bandana, which were popular accessories for African American women in the late 19th century. The front of the card appears to have been part of a larger advertisement, with only two of four panels present. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises Rosenthal's clothing store, located at 1418 Polk Street and 1946 Fillmore Street (corner of Pine) in San Francisco. The front of the card features a caricature of a Black man in a red shirt, standing in a window. The man has a bald head and a beard. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises Rosenthal's, a clothing store in San Francisco, California. The card lists two addresses, 1418 Polk Street and 1946 Fillmore Street, corner of Pine. The front of the card features a caricature of a Black boy wearing a stripped shirt, peeking out of a window, possibly an advertisement for the store's clothing. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises Rosenthal's, a clothing store located at 1418 Polk Street and 1946 Fillmore Street, corner of Pine Street, in San Francisco, California. The front of the card features an illustration of two Black women standing at a fence holding a white baby. The scene is framed by a fence with a gate and a house on the left. The women wear brightly colored dresses with white collars and cuffs. The baby has a very small, white bonnet on. The card is a caricature of a Black family, common in advertisements at the time, and shows clear racism against Black people. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises S. I. Freeman's clothing store, located at 14, 16, and 18 Asylum Street. The front of the card features a caricature of two Black children leaning on cellar doors. A Black man with a pipe is opening one of the doors. The illustration is in black and sepia tones against a pink background. The back of the card is a full advertisement.

This trade card advertises S. I. Freeman's clothing store located at 14, 16, & 18 Asylum Street in Hartford, Connecticut. The card features a sepia-toned illustration of a Black boy eating watermelon. The image is set against a yellow background, with the boy's clothing and the watermelon also in black. The card appears to be intended for a predominantly white audience and may contain racially insensitive imagery. The back of the card provides additional details about the business.

This trade card for S. Weil, a clothing merchant located at 521 Penn Avenue, Reading, Pennsylvania, features a black and white comical illustration. The card's front displays a comical illustration, most likely of Mr. Weil. The back of the card includes a biography of S. Weil. He is described as a member of numerous organizations and an independent voter.

This trade card advertises Shoneman Bros., a millinery and fancy goods store located at 116, 118, and 120 8YH Street. The card features a caricature of a young Black boy looking out of a window and holding an ad. The illustration is rendered in a cartoonish style and appears to be intended to be humorous. This is an example of racist imagery from the period. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises Wiener the Tailor, located at 20 Fulton Street, New York City. The front of the card features a caricature of a Black man playing a mandolin while wearing a large, bright red bow tie. The text “Sweet Violets” appears above the figure in the center of the card, which is framed by a simple black border. The back of the card is blank.

Trade card advertising Frauenthal Bros. in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, circa 1885. The card features a caricature of two monkeys; one in a black and red shoe, and one smoking a pipe on a stool; and one monkey dressed in a skirt holding a green pot.

This trade card advertises L. Mayer's Shirt & Underwear Store in Hartford, Connecticut. The front of the card displays a full advertisement announcing the store as the "sole mfg. of the Atlas shirt." The address, 76 Asylum Street, is prominently featured. The imagery includes comical illustrations of Black people. This is one of a set of seven cards. The back of the card is blank.