Tamara Lanier’s Groundbreaking Legal Triumph Over Harvard University

This week, a historic decision was made by Harvard University to relinquish 15 daguerreotypes believed to be some of the earliest photographs of enslaved people in the United States. This resolution comes as part of a landmark settlement with Tamara Lanier, who established her genealogical connection to Papa Renty and his daughter Delia, both depicted in some of these photographs. These images were initially commissioned by Harvard Professor Louis Agassiz, a supporter of the pseudoscientific theory of polygenism, to promote White racial superiority.

For Lanier, the pursuit for these daguerreotypes was not solely about ownership but a step towards justice. This settlement follows a complex legal battle that began in 2019, elevating conversations around reparations for Black Americans, ethical considerations in early photography, and the accountability of institutions with ties to slavery.

These daguerreotypes, previously held in Harvard’s Peabody Museum, are set to be transferred to the International African American Museum in South Carolina, which Lanier believes will honor and contextualize the artifacts’ cultural and historical significance. This decision marks a new chapter for these images, allowing them to be returned to their historical roots.

Lanier’s journey has been extensive, fighting institutional resistance and upholding the oral histories passed down through her family, emphasizing the importance of these narratives in preserving Black heritage. Her attorneys, including prominent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, have been instrumental in achieving this outcome, marking it a victory not only for Lanier but also for the broader movement advocating for acknowledgment and reparative justice for the descendants of enslaved individuals.