Page McCarty, The Richmond Daily Times, from the American Editors series (N35) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

This small chromolithograph was made by Allen & Ginter for their series of cigarette cards, likely around the late 19th century. Part of the "American Editors" series, it features Page McCarty, editor of The Richmond Daily Times. This card offers a glimpse into the cultural landscape of the post-Reconstruction South. McCarty's position as an editor suggests a figure of considerable influence. Adjacent to his portrait is the Washington Monument in Richmond, Virginia. The monument’s presence on the card connects McCarty to a broader narrative of American identity. But who was included in that narrative, and who was excluded? The monument was erected in a city that served as the capital of the Confederacy, and it stands as a symbol of a complex, contested history. Think about the stories that monuments tell, and whose perspectives are often left out of the official record.