Figure 1.--This CDV portrait shows a black boy who looks to be about 8-9 years old. The enccription on the front gives us his name--Jack Wasp. The encription on the back reads, "Fred (sp) Slave - became cabin boy?" From that we can infer that Jack was born some time before 1863-65. The portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken in the late-1860s or early-70s, most probably after the Civil War.

Jack Wasp (United States, 1860s)

This CDV poortrait shows a black boy who looks to be about 8-9 yess old. The enccription on the front gives us his name--Jack Wasp. The encription on the back reads, "Fred (sp) Slave - became cabin boy?" From that we can infer that Jack was born some time before 1863-65. The portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken in the late-1860s or early-70s, most probably after the Civil War. The question mark on the incription suggests that it was written after the portrait was taken by someone who did not know Jack. He is wearing a sailor-style outfit. He seems to be holding a dailor cap. These were styles which was not commonly worn by boys at the time. So he may have well be or have become a cabin boy. It is possible that it was taken during the Civil War. Perhaps he was on one of the Confederate blockade runners seized by the U.S. Navy. Slavemasters were known to take boys with them as servants. Unfortunately we can only speculate as we have been unable to find any additional information about Jack. The photographer and location of the portrait is not indicated.






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Created: 6:52 PM 12/29/2009
Last edited: 6:52 PM 12/29/2009