David Bustill Bowser

**David Bustill Bowser** (January 16, 1820, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – June 30, 1900, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) na he be a 19th-century African-American ornamental artist, portraitist, den social activist. Na he design battle flags for eleven African-American regiments during de American Civil War wey na he paint portraits of prominent Americans, wey dey include U.S. Presido Abraham Lincoln den abolitionist John Brown. Na he be politically active thru out much of ein adult life, na he be a contributor to de Underground Railroad wey na he sanso help to secure de post-war passage of key civil rights legislation insyd Pennsylvania.

As a major figure insyd de Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, na he design broadsides den regalia give de organization.

Na de Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission describe Bowser as an artist wey na ein "works be de first widely viewed, positive images of African Americans painted by an African American".

## Formative years

Na dem born am insyd Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 16, 1820, na David Bustill Bowser be a grandson of Cyrus Bustill (1732–1806), a formerly enslaved man wey purchase ein freedom wey he go on to become a founding member of Philadelphia ein Free African Society, den a son of oyster house proprietor Jeremiah Bowser (1766–1856), wey na ein freedom be purchased by a group of Philadelphia Quakers after na dem arrest am for he be a fugitive slave.

A member of de prominent Bustill family, na he be a cousin den student of artist Robert Douglass Jr., wey train at de Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts wey na he be a pupil of Thomas Sully. Na David Bustill Bowser sanso attend de private school wey be operated by Douglass ein sisto, Sarah Mapps Douglass.

Na he marry to seamstress Elizabeth Harriet Stevens Gray (June 13, 1831 – November 29, 1908), David Bustill Bowser den ein wifey be de parents of artist Raphael Bowser den Ida Elizabeth (Bowser) Asbury (1870–1955), a violinist den music teacher. Na dem be respected for dema civic engagement den philanthropy, David B. den Elizabeth Bowser support dema family by designing den painting banners, signs, uniform hats den oda regalia give fraternal associations, political groups, den volunteer fire companies insyd den beyond Philadelphia.

## Mid-1800s den de American Civil War

During de 1840s, na Bowser paint banners give a diverse range of clients, wey dey include de Know Nothing Party, wey na he receive a commission make he paint de portrait of prominent abolitionist den real estate developer Jacob C. White. Active insyd dat decade ein efforts make dem repeal de clause insyd Pennsylvania's Constitution wich na prohibit blacks from voting, na Bowser den ein family sanso cam be so involved plus de abolition movement wey na dema home cam be a stop on de Underground Railroad. Insyd 1858, na politics dwn advocacy merge plus art wen na Bower paint de portrait of abolitionist John Brown while na Brown dey visit de Bowser home. During dis same period, na Bowser sanso plete work on ein painting, *The Firebell in the Night*.

Na he be active during dis phase of ein life plus de Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. As Grand Master of de Order insyd Philadelphia, na he deliver de keynote address at de Annual Moveable Committee of de G.U.O. of O.F. insyd Toronto, Canada on October 17, 1859, as na ein members celebrate de organization ein thirteenth anniversary. According to news reports, na dem "listen to am thru out plus much attention, wey na dem frequently rapturously applaud am" as na he "define in eloquent terms de nature of de work of Odd Fellows — especially dat great den leading principle, Charity," wey na he "remark upon de practical good wey be effected by Odd Fellowship, in alleviating distress den dey bestow chaw of de comforts of life upon de aged den infirm of de Order, as well as dem dey confer benefactions upon de widow den orphan."

 During de American Civil War, na Bowser join plus chaw oda prominent members of Philadelphia ein African-American community make dem begin recruiting soldiers insyd 1862 insyd de event dat de federal government go permit large numbers of black soldiers to enlist following de 1863 announcement of de Emancipation Proclamation by Presido Abraham Lincoln. Na Bowser be then commissioned insyd early 1863 make he design banners den battle flags for eleven of those African-American regiments in preparation for dema respective mustering at Camp William Penn, wich na dey locate just outsyd of Philadelphia.

Na dem bia Bowser ein work on de first banner thru a commission dem award by de Contraband Relief Association (CRA), an organization wey be headed by Elizabeth Keckley, de formerly enslaved woman wey cam be Mary Todd Lincoln ein dressmaker. Na e then be presented by de CRA to de leaders of 1st United States Colored Infantry. Plus respect to de oda Bowser-designed battle flags, na historians at de Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission note dat:

*The 127th and 3rd regiments marched carrying banners reading 'We will prove ourselves men' and 'Rather Die Freemen, Than Live To Be Slaves.' Beneath these, black soldiers protect white women representing Columbia, the symbol of the republic.* *The 45th's banner, proclaiming 'One Cause, One Country,' shows a black soldier proudly holding an American flag in front of a bust of George Washington as black troops fight in the background.* *The 24th's banner shows a black soldier ascending a hill, his arms outstretched in prayer, beneath the words 'Let Soldiers in War, Be Citizens in Peace.*'

Insyd 1865, na Bowser sanso paint a portrait of Lincoln, wey dey work from an image of de presido wey na dem later use to create America ein post-Civil War five-dollar bill.

## Post-war life

Post-war, na Bowser continue ein involvement plus de Grand and United Order of Odd Fellows, ultimately he cam be a G.U.O. of O.F. officer, wey na he sanso be active plus chaw oda black fraternal orders buh, artistically, na ein creativity den productivity be limited by ein inability to obtain additional major commissions. As a result, na he den ein wifey increasingly turn to designing den dey produce organizational banners den regalia.

Frequently he be involve insyd ein community as a civic leader, wey he sanso cam increasingly be active insyd politics. Insyd 1867, na dem appoint am by de leadership of de Pennsylvania Equal Rights League, plus William D. Forten den Octavius V. Catto, make dem represent de League insyd securing "passage of a bill thru de Legislature wey dey forbid de exclusion of persons from public conveyances" anywer insyd Pennsylvania "on account of race anaa color." Na dem be successful.

Insyd 1870, na dem select am to preside over de "jubilee procession" den "mass meeting" wich na e take place at Philadelphia ein Horticultural Hall on April 26. Na among those in attendance be "members of de Union League den oda prominent citizens," wey dey include Lucretia Mott, Passmore Williamson den Judge Paxson; de Rev. James A. Jones, wey na "open de proceedings plus prayer"; Robert Purvis, wey na he deliver an address; Jacob C. White, Jr., wey na he "read de proclamation of de ratification of de fifteenth amendment"; den de Hon. Galusha A. Grow, Frederick Douglass, General Harry White, den Alexander P. Colesberry, wey subsequently deliver formal addresses. Afterward, na de group approve a resolution wich na e "recognize de Anti-Slavery Society, de Republican party den press, de Equal Rights League, John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Charles Sumner, William Lloyd Garrison, Horace Greeley, Lucretia Mott, den de whole army of pioneers wey speak anaa dem venture heroic deeds in behalf of dema oppressed people, as among de human agencies wey be crystallized into law de Declaration for wich wona poppies die; wey na dem regard de restoration of dis privilege as a vindication of popular government, den dat therein dem recognize dema just claims to all de franchises dem grant to any oda class of dema fellow-citizens; dat insyd de future, as insyd de past, ddm go be found on de side of loyalty den patriotism [plus] an unfaltering adherence to de Republican party."

As vice pee of de Pennsylvania Equal Rights League, na Bowser sanso be among those wey motivate de organization ein membership make dem meet plus Presido Grant at de White House on November 26, 1872 "*for the purpose ... of urging upon him the importance of recommending in his annual message to Congress, a request kindred to the 'Fifteenth Amendment,' by the recommendation of the passage of such laws as will require that all the citizens of this country shall be protected from insult and outrage on the highways of the nation, and secured in all their 'public rights' — that all may have the full benefit of the unfaltering loyalty which, at the fearful price of life and suffering, we gave to our country; the full benefit of our taxes which we fully, freely and uncomplainingly pay; that ... Congress [will] pass such laws as will protect us in the attempt to exercise and enjoy our civil rights."* According to a report insyd de December 14, 1872 edition of The Weekly Louisianian, na de group "be very cordially received by de Presido"; however, while na Grant acknowledge dat "[a]ll citizens undoubtedly in all respects for be equal" den dat further protections for dema civil rights "for come," na he sanso informed de group say dema request "belong[ed] more properly to de next Administration."

Insyd 1875, na Bowser sue Alfred L. Jones of Baltimore insyd court for violating ein patent of a chromolithographic image wey na he (Bowser) design give de Odd Fellows.

## Death, interment den legacy

Na Bowser die insyd Philadelphia on June 30, 1900, wey na dem bury am at de Eden Cemetery insyd Collingdale, Pennsylvania.

During de 1940s, na a major portion of ein legacy be nearly obscured forever wen na dem remove de original Civil War battle flags wey he design from de military museum at West Point, wer na dem store am since de war. After dem throw way de flags, na all wey remain be de seven images dem describe above (under "American Civil War").

## Gallery

File:Presented_by_-_3rd_US_Colored_Troops_banner.jpg|Banner, 3rd United States Colored Infantry (presenter: "committee of ladies of Phil Oct 1863")
File:3rd_US_Colored_Troops_banner.jpg|Battle flag, 3rd United States Colored Infantry, 1863
File:22nd_US_Colored_Troops_banner.jpg|Battle flag, 22nd United States Colored Infantry, 1863
File:Strike_for_God_and_(...)_25th_United_States_Colored_Troops_LCCN98506833.jpg|Battle flag, 25th United States Colored Infantry, 1864
File:45th_US_Colored_Troops_banner.jpg|Battle flag, 45th United States Colored Infantry, 1863
File:127th_US_Colored_Troops_banner.jpg|Battle flag, 127th United States Colored Infantry, 1863
File:Portrait_of_Abraham_Lincoln_by_David_Bustill_Bowser.jpg|Portrait of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, 1865
File:JBrown_by_DB_Bowser_1865.jpg|Portrait of abolitionist John Brown, 1865


## References


## External links

*"David Bustill Bowser Historical Marker" (placed at the site of Bowser's Philadelphia residence by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission)
*Selections of nineteenth-century Afro-American Art (PDF of an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art with information regarding Bowser and his work)
*Works by or about David Bustill Bowser at the Internet Archive