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William Hines Furbush Photographs

 Collection
Identifier: MC 1783

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains thirteen photographs attributed to Furbush. Seven of the photographs have Furbush’s imprint. The other six were possibly taken by him as well. Seven of the photographs are labeled; Dan Gibson, John Hall, John Jones, Thomas L. Evans, Mrs. A.K. Cameron, and the seventh is illegible.

Not much is known about five of the seven photographs that are labeled. However, information is available on Thomas L. Evans and Mrs. A.K. Cameron. Evans was Captain of the 96th Ohio Volunteer Infantry which was formed in Delaware, Ohio in August 1862. The 96th Ohio Volunteer Infantry helped in the defense of Cincinnati, Ohio and later that year the unit was sent south marching with General Sherman and participated in the Siege of Vicksburg. Henrietta Cameron was married to Alex K. Cameron who was a clerk in a grocery store in Helena Arkansas.

Dates

  • ca. 1862-1870

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

William Hines Furbush, an African-American, was born in 1839, in Carroll County, Kentucky. Nothing is known of his parentage or early childhood. Around 1860, Furbush operated a photography studio in Delaware, Ohio. In March 1862, Furbush traveled to Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas, where he continued to work as a photographer. Around December, 1862, Furbush moved back to Ohio, where he married Susan Dickey. In February 1865, he joined the Forty-Second Colored Infantry at Columbus, Ohio, and was honorably discharged at the rank of Commissary Sergeant in January 1866.

Furbush departed for Liberia on the Golconda, an American Colonization Society ship in late 1866, but had returned to Helena by 1870 working as a photographer. In 1872, he was elected as a Republican, to the Arkansas General Assembly, representing the eleventh district comprised of Monroe and Phillips counties. One of Furbush’s accomplishments during his tenure in the legislature was the creation of Lee County. He served as its first sheriff from 1873-1879. In late 1878, Furbush was named as the Democratic nominee to the Arkansas House of Representatives and resigned as sheriff.

In March 1879, Furbush moved to Colorado following his vindication on bribery charges. He publicly announced his intention to return to Arkansas soon, but he did not move back to Arkansas until 1888, where he established himself as an attorney. In 1889, he co-founded the African American newspaper National Democrat. In the early 1890s, the Arkansas Legislature passed the laws disfranchising African American men. It was around this period when Furbush moved to South Carolina and later to Savannah, Georgia. In 1901, he moved to Marion, Indiana to the National Home for Disabled Veterans. Furbush died at the home on September 3, 1902.

Extent

.1 Linear Feet (1 box)

Arrangement of the Papers.

Photographs are arranged in one folder.

Acquisition Information

The Williams Hines Furbush Photographs Images 1-10 were purchased by the Special Collections Department, University of Arkansas Libraries, in 2008 from Cowan's Auctions and off the Internet auction site eBay. Image 11 was purchased in 2011 from Raynor's Historical Collectible Auctions of Burlington, North Carolina. In 2012, Image 12 was purchased off the Internet auction site eBay. Image 13 was donated by Blake Wintory of Lake Village, Arkansas, on October 31, 2014.

Processing Information

Processed by Kristie Flynn and Krista Jones; completed in March 2012. Updated by Katrina Windon in December 2016.

Title
William Hines Furbush Photographs
Status
Completed
Author
Kristie Flynn and Krista Jones
Date
2012
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444