Prudence Crandall portrait and film

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 6953

Scope and content

Portrait of Prudence Crandall by Francis Alexander, oil on canvas. Also notebook of information about the portrait, requests for reproductions, slides, and requests for loans. Also, a documentary film on DVD, "To all on equal terms: the life and legacy of Prudence Crandall" (created by the Prudence Crandall Museum; produced by Hudson River Film and Video, 2009).

Dates

1834-2009

Creator

no primary creator (Person)
Alexander, Francis, 1800-1880. (Person)
Prudence Crandall Museum (Organization)
Hudson River Film and Video (Organization)

Language of Material

In English.

Biographical / Historical

In 1834, William Lloyd Garrison wrote to Prudence Crandall asking her to travel to Boston to sit for a portrait commissioned by the New England "Anti-Slavery Society. The previous year Miss Crandall had gained notoriety by reorganizing her school in Canterbury, Connecticut, for the education of African-American girls. While besieged by racist attacks in her home community, Miss Crandall received great support for her efforts from anti-slavery activists around New England. The New England Anti-Slavery Society raised $65 to have her portrait painted to exhibit at meetings. Prudence Crandall agreed and in early April she visited the Boston studio of Francis Alexander. The portrait was given to the Reverend Samuel Joseph May who gave it to Andrew Dickson White for Cornell University.