Elisha and Joseph

The American Great Depression (1929-1939) hit Richmond’s African-American community hard, as black unemployment rose, membership in clubs, churches, and other organizations declined. Many African-American personal relationships were impacted as families broke apart and members left the city to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

Very little is documented about Joseph and his wife, Elisha. The couple worked for the Mayo family and lived in the former slave houses behind the Mayo’s Linden Row home at 104 East Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia. These Depression era oil portraits were painted by their employer, local artist Isabel Jones Mayo.