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This Family Portrait from 1897 Holds a Mystery That No One Has Ever Been Able to Unravel — Until Now
Clara Marie Washington, daughter of Thomas and Ruth Washington, born February 14th, 1891.
The 1900 census showed the family living in a purchased home on Bell Street just off Auburn Avenue, a substantial two-story residence valued at $2,800, an impressive sum for a black family in that era.
But nowhere in these routine records was there any explanation for Clara’s appearance.
Rebecca expanded her search into medical and institutional records.
Looking for any mention of unusual children, genetic conditions, or families dealing with medical anomalies.
What she found children.
In the Georgia State Archives, she discovered reports from the state sanitarium in various county poor houses from the 1890s.
Several entries referenced abnormal negro children who’d been surrendered by families or removed by authorities.
Children with physical differences, disabilities, or appearances that deviated from expectations.
One entry from 1896 made Rebecca’s stomach turned.
Female child, approximately four years, negro parents, unusual pigmentation, surrendered to institution by family, county unknown.
The language was clinical and cruel.
These children were treated as curiosities, defects, shameful secrets to be hidden away.
Yet, Clara Washington hadn’t been hidden.
Rebecca found her name in the 1899 Sunday school enrollment at Big Bethl.
Clara Washington, age 8, intermediate class.
She was attending church openly, participating in children’s programs.
In 1902, Gate City Colored School records listed Clara as a student, though with an unusual notation.
modified attendance schedule, supplementary home instruction approved by administration.
The school had made accommodations for her, but she was enrolled.
She was being educated.
She was part of the community.
Whatever Clara’s condition was, her family wasn’t hiding her.
They were raising her openly in a society that typically punished difference with violence or institutionalization.
But Rebecca still didn’t know what that condition was.
The photograph showed the visual evidence, but without medical expertise, she couldn’t interpret what she was seeing.
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