From 1867 to 1869, Mississippians elected 13 Black state senators and 102 representatives. In the 1870s, Alexander K. Davis served as lieutenant governor, Rev. James D. Lynch and James Hill each as secretary of state, and John R. Lynch and Isaac D. Shadd as Speakers of the House. At a time when US senators were elected by state legislators, Mississippi sent Hiram Rhodes Revels (1870-1871) and Blanche Kelso Bruce (1875-1880) to Washington.
Pictured: A composite of the 1874-1875 state legislature. The paper is yellowed and has two stamps marking the printer at top left and on the right lower sides. In the center of the image is a photograph of each state legislator. Below the legislators’ photos are a list of their names in seven columns.
Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ppmsca-12860
