The Business is Suffering

The Business is Suffering was inspired by a collection of letters found by the artist while working in the archive of the American Antiquarian Society. The letters, which date from 1846 – 1863 were written by prospective buyers, sellers, and “agents” in the field to the slave dealing firm of R.H. Dickinson & Bros. Collectively they document the decline of the slave trade in the South, while simultaneously revealing the unselfconscious racism, and the dehumanizing attitudes which lead to such a system. Twenty six letters have been selected and transcribed in full for this edition.

Out of print.

Images

Holdings

University of Chicago, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Trinity College, Lafayette College, Lousiana State University (Baton Rouge), Stanford University, University of California (Santa Barbara), University of Kentucky, Swarthmore College, Boston Athenaeum, Dartmouth College, University of Colorado (Boulder), University of Vermont, British Library, University of Delaware, Virginia Commonwealth University, Yale University, Vassar College Library, Rochester Institute of Technology, Carleton College Library, University of Central Florida, University of Virginia, Messiah College, Indiana University, Louisiana State University, Emory University, University of Michigan, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Harvard University, Library of Congress, Duke University, Bucknell University

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Metadata

Title:

The Business is Suffering

Date of publication:

2003

Place of publication:

Rosendale, NY

Publisher:

Women's Studio Workshop

Subjects:

Slave traders--United States--Correspondence

Dimensions:

34 x 24 cm.

Number in edition:

50

Paging:

[55] p.

Paper:

Rives heavyweight paper

Printing method:

Letterpress, screen print

Typeface:

Franklin Gothic

Binding:

Three-quarter bound in black paper and faux leather; slipcase

Structure:

Codex

Funding source:

New York State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Puffin Foundation, Women's Studio Workshop

Signature:

Signed by the artist

Printer:

Maureen Cummins

Binder:

Maureen Cummins

Other notes:

RHD & Bro., Richmond, Va; dealers & auctioneers: letters, 1846-1863--Spine of slipcase; Cover title: Private