Races, Negroes: United States. Virginia. Hampton. Hampton Normal and Industrial School: Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, Hampton, Va.: Hampton exstudents and their children. 1899 - 1900

Curator: This photograph, attributed to Frances Benjamin Johnston, shows Hampton ex-students and their children. It’s part of a series on the Hampton Normal and Industrial School. Editor: The solemnity of the subjects is what stands out to me. This is a family portrait, but it’s framed with an almost unsettling formality. Curator: Johnston’s work often documented educational settings like Hampton, which aimed to train Black and Native American students in vocational skills. But let's not forget the complex history of assimilation tied to these institutions. Editor: Right. This image, like many from that era, walks a tightrope. The family projects dignity and aspiration, but the setting speaks to larger societal structures and the politics of representation. Curator: This picture definitely encapsulates the problematic, yet determined narrative surrounding early educational institutions. Editor: Absolutely. Hopefully this image helps us consider the role institutions played in shaping identity during that time.