Frederick Douglass Portrait at The Union League

This Photo was taken at the Annual Octavius Catto Luncheon with Civil War Actors hosted by The Union League Legacy Foundation. Pictured is the CEO of The National Marian Anderson Museum   Jillian Patricia Pirtle who Opened up the Luncheon.

The Historic Philadelphia Union league had an amazing portrait of Frederick Douglass Commissioned by Artist Jordon Sokol. Frederick Douglass was the most Photographed American of the 19th century. The members of the Union league Spent a year searching for the artist that would immortalize Douglass in the hearts and minds of Philadelphians.

In 1863, Douglass recruited troops for the first training of African American soldiers at Camp William Penn in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania for the Union Army which needed more men to fight in the Civil War.

Men of Color of Philadelphia!(Philadelphia, 1863).

In the face of the impending Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania in June of 1863, the young African American educator and activist Octavius Catto worked to organize a black regiment for defense of the state. When they arrived in Harrisburg they were turned back. State authorities were not yet ready or willing to accept black soldiers. The rallying cry was signed by forty-five Philadelphia African American leaders – clergymen, educators, businessmen – joined by Frederick Douglass, touring the north encouraging African American enlistment.

The Public Viewings this September – October  of Frederick Douglass was well received  . Contact the Union league Legacy Foundation for more information on the February 2022 Public viewing of this amazing Portrait.           www.ULLegacy.org.