SUMMARY & OVERALL UNDERSTANDING
"Silk lace and linen shawl given to Harriet Tubman by Queen Victoria." ca. 1897. NMAAHC. https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2009.50.39
The purpose of this research project is to examine Harriet Tubman's shawl, which was gifted by Queen Victoria. This exchange has been analyzed through the theories of Marcel Mauss, Karl Marx, Sydney Mintz, and D. W. Winnicott.
Harriet Tubman worked during the 19th century to liberate and free people who were still enslaved. Her admirable work during the midst of the Civil War, and in 1863, she was able to free over 700 people from the shackles of slavery by organizing an armed raid. Queen Victoria—who abolished slavery in 1833—admired Harriet Tubman's work in establishing freedom for enslaved people in the United States, as well as her work as a spy during the Civil War. This prompted the Queen to acknowledge and reward Tubman's work. Much later in Tubman's life, around 1897, she received three gifts from Queen Victoria: an invitation to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a silk and linen shawl, and a
commemorative medal. The Queen had intended to give these at the event. However, as Harriet Tubman didn’t make it, the only proper response was to send the gifts out to her. It’s stated that Tubman was buried with the medal she received, and it is inferred that Queen Victoria’s gifts played a significant role in shaping how Tubman dressed for the rest of her life. She wore white almost exclusively every day, except on the day of her burial. Only when she was buried was she dressed in black, accompanied by her gifted medal.​​​
As an abolitionist advocate herself, Queen Victoria wanted to reward individuals who took action against slavery. ​The shawl, which was made from white lace, represented Queen Victoria’s gratitude towards Harriet Tubman for her role in the Underground Railroad. Lace being used as the material for the shawl is significant: Queen Victoria had reinvigorated popular interest in white silk. This had happened following her wedding, allowing lace to take on new meanings in English society, such as an association with elegance.
Additionally, whether intentional or not, the white coloring has meaning in West African culture. The Yoruba religion associates white coloring with knowledge. However, there is still some uncertainty as to whether or not the shawl was meant to be anything more than a sign of support from one abolitionist to another. Additionally, it is unclear as to why Queen Victoria’s gift was left mostly unreciprocated by
"Silk lace and linen shawl given to Harriet Tubman by Queen Victoria." ca. 1897. NMAAHC. https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2009.50.39
Tubman. Even though all the facets of Queen Victoria’s intentions in gifting a white silk shawl are not entirely known, it is clear that the gift was intended as a means by which to express gratitude toward Tubman and her work.
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