JUEL ID/KEY: P48697

"D. J. Ward," a photograph by Rufus W. Holsinger taken on August 8, 1917. 

The Charlottesville City Directory, 1914-15 lists "Ward, David J." in the "cleaning and pressing business," working at 235 W Main (p207). Note in the 1918 ad (below) Ward had moved his business to 291 West Main Street.

Other businesses/owners photographed by Holsinger include Acme Shaving Parlor, William F. and Charles H. Brown (Brown Barber Shop), A. T. Buckner (and son George F. Buckner, grocers), George Carr's Second Hand Clothing, Dr. George F. Ferguson, Dr. George R. Johnson, Mr. J. P. Hawkins, W. G. Layne (Layne and Whitlock, Wheelright/Blacksmith), J.F. Taylor, and D. J. Ward. See "Freedman's Tally" for more information about African Americans operating businesses in the Jim Crow Era.

Daily Progress, November 29, 1918 (p.5)

Ward often advertized in the Daily Progress, as can also be seen in the 1917 issue below (Daily Progress, September 14, 1917). Ads for Acme Shaving Parlor, J. F. Bell's Funeral Home, and other "colored businesses" often appeared on the same page (below). The complexities for African Americans operating businesses in the Jim Crow period is perhaps best seen, literally, in looking at the full page of the above ads, which includes a "mammy" cariacature in the regularly posted comic strip, "Scoop." See "Freedman's Tally" for more information about African Americans operating businesses in the Jim Crow Era. 

Daily Progress, September 14 1917 (p.3)

He was also part of a committee that organized a "splendid farewell for colored men" at First Baptist Church, Charlottesville (27 October 1917, reported in Daily Progress) (First Baptist Church: Records of Members Who Served).

See also the photograph of "Mrs. D. J. Ward," produced on the same date. 

Additional information about D. J. Ward will be added as it is researched. 

NOTE that the name with which the portrait is labelled (or, labelled "untitled") is not necessarily the name of the sitter(s) in the portrait, but rather the name of the person who paid for the portrait when it was taken (the date and name associated with each photograph is from the business ledgers of R. W. Holsinger).

Sources

- "D. J. Ward" 1917-08-08 photograph in UVA Library Catalogue (X05376A) 

- Charlottesville City Directory, 1914-15 [Hathi Trust], 207 

- First Baptist Church: Records of Members Who Served; 27 October 1917, reported in Daily Progress)

- Advertisement, The Daily Progress, Friday November 29, 1918. Charlottesville, Virginia (no. 8904). p. 5

- Daily Progress Ads, The Daily Progress, Friday September 14, 1917. Charlottesville Virginia, No. 86280 p.3

SEE ALSO:

Holsinger Image Gallery of African Americans

J. F. Bell Funeral Home Records

Charlottesville City Directory, 1914-15 [Hathi Trust] 

1870 & 1910 U. S. Census - Charlottesville & Esmont Communities

First published: August 22, 2020

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