Carte-de-visite of a young woman and two children, 1864 - 1866. Creator: Alexander Gardner.

Carte-de-visite of a young African-American woman and two children. The woman is pictured seated in the center of the image, flanked by two young girls standing next to her. The woman is wearing a long, dot-patterned dress with bow at the collar. Her proper right arm is around the shoulders of the youngest girl, who stands with her proper left hand on the woman's knee, gripping her the fabric of her dress. The girl on the right is wearing a dark, gingham long-sleeved dress and heavy black shoes with her hair plaited back. The younger girl on the left is wearing a plaid long-sleeved dress, visible white petticoat, white socks, and black shoes, her hair also plaited. On the back of the photograph is the photographer’s stamp with and image of the United States Capitol building at center. The stamp reads “ALEX. GARDNER./ Photographer to the Army of the Potomac / GALLERIES / 511 Seventh Street and 332 Pennsylvania Av. / Published by / Philp & Solomons, / Washington, D.C.” Below the photographer’s stamp is a 2 cent George Washington stamp surrounded with an ornate border.