RJ's Inspiration #018 ⛓

RJ's Inspiration

weekly viz to inspire you too

⛓ AN 18TH CENTURY VIRGINIA ESTATE
appeared in 1937's UNITED STATES: A GRAPHIC HISTORY (link). It was created by Rudolf Modley in an Isotype style. From the book: "The chart is a stylized presentation of George Washington's estate at Mt. Vernon, as it looked in 1786. There were four plantations on the estate and each one of them required the services of a varied company of Negroes."

This graphic is rich with context and comparisons: The shocking number of people slaving beneath the singular owner, Washington, who is able to stand on top of them because the map is re-oriented with SE at top. The diversity of roles, including both white and black overseers. So many children but almost no old people. The way the landscape and buildings are abstracted the perfect amount to give a sense of geographic distribution of activities and people. Visit Mount Vernon today, a beautiful but empty estate, and it is difficult to appreciate what this graphic tells. Read more about slavery at Mount Vernon LINK.

William Lee, often called Billy, was Washington's personal valet throughout the Revolution and most famous slave, depicted in the wing of several of Washington's portraits. Billy Lee was an exceptional rider, described during the hunt as a fearless horseman would rush, at full speed, through brake or tangled wood, in a style at which modern huntsmen would stand aghast. Lee was the General's effective bodyguard and literal right hand man, at Washington's side for every year of the war and throughout every battle. Read more about Billy Lee LINK.

10 of the first 12 American presidents enslaved African-Americans. Only John Adams and John Quincy Adams did not. LINK

👉 ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS SERIES?
Please reply directly to share your favorite viz, offer any advice for how this newsletter experiment can be improved, or say hello. -RJ