John Teemer, Oarsman, from World's Champions, Series 1 (N28) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

This is a cigarette card of John Teemer, an oarsman, made by Allen & Ginter, a tobacco company based in Richmond, Virginia. These cards were immensely popular in the late 19th century, offering glimpses into the lives and accomplishments of athletes, actors, and other public figures. However, these cards also reflect the values and prejudices of their time. Consider the context: Richmond, Virginia, was the capital of the Confederacy, and even decades after the Civil War, racial and social hierarchies remained deeply entrenched. The glorification of white athletes like Teemer served to reinforce existing power structures, subtly promoting a vision of American identity that excluded marginalized groups. The image is small, but the implications are vast. It invites us to reflect on who is celebrated, whose stories are told, and how these representations shape our understanding of history and ourselves.