Conspirator's Portraits

[L Verge]

Some people used to claim that the authorities "altered" that one photo at the time of her trial to make her appear more evil. We have a copy of the original, which is still in the hands of the family. The original was loaned to James O. Hall back in the late-1960s or early-1970s so that he could have one of the country's most reputable photography studios duplicate it. The firm was Harris & Ewing here in D.C. (They also did my wedding photos!). The company went out of business in the 1980s, and we are not sure what happened to all of their negatives and proofs. Many of them went to the Washingtoniana collection at the Martin Luther King Public Library downtown. I don't believe that Mr. Hall ever received an answer to his search inquiry with them.

Almost every book shows the same cameo photo from chest up. The original is actually a three-quarter pose showing her dainty hands with great, lacy undersleeves, and a prayer book or missile in one hand. The Surratt Society owns the rights to that Harris & Ewing duplication. We do share for a fee, but credit better be given...