Slave Nanny and Child, 19th century

Throughout history, daily chores such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for children are most often performed by women. These women – mothers, daughters, female relatives, servants, or slaves – performed this labor unpaid or for low wages. No documentation is available, but this could be her own child.
Photograph of a slave nanny with a white child, c. 1855 from Arkansas.
Courtesy of Library of Congress.

To learn more about the history of domestic labor, see Investigating Family, Food, and Housing Themes in Social Studies