Uploaded May 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
University of Michigan students uncovered the story of Arabella Chapman by researching two rare photo albums from the U-M William L. Clements Library collection. The portraits within allowed students to learn about the role of visual culture, especially photography, as a critical dimension of the everyday life and politics of black Americans at the end of the 19th century. Their research prompted the launch of a website, http:/www.arabellachapman.com, where they're hoping to crowd-source new information about Arabella and people yet to be identified in the albums. Learn More: http://myumi.ch/a0WBl
University of Michigan students uncovered the story of Arabella Chapman by researching two rare photo albums from the U-M William L. Clements Library collection. The portraits within allowed students to learn about the role of visual culture, especially photography, as a critical dimension of the everyday life and politics of black Americans at the end of the 19th century. Their research prompted the launch of a website, http:/www.arabellachapman.com, where they're hoping to crowd-source new information about Arabella and people yet to be identified in the albums. Learn More: http://myumi.ch/a0WBl
