Black Abolitionists' Activism in Lowell
Document 19

Document 19: "H.W. Foster" Barbershop Advertisement, The Lowell Advertiser, 1838

This advertisement for H.W. Foster’s barbershop gives us an idea of what type of skills he had and suggests that he had both Black and white clients.

Liberal: Ample, full, large.
Commodious: Handy, serviceable
N.B.: Nota bene, is used in writing to indicate that something is important, and that the reader should take notice of it.

H.W. Foster,

Having commenced

business, has taken this

method to make it more

generally known to the

inhabitants of Lowell,

and the public, that he

has recently taken and

newly furnished a Bar-

bers Shop on Market

street, formerly called

Lowell street, and near-

ly opposite the Auction

rooms. He hopes to

meet with a liberal share

of patronage, as he has

every thing very com-

modious, and will be

ever ready to attend to all who may favor him with their

calls.

N.B.— CUTTING AND DRESSING THE HAIR is a

branch of his business which he has a peculiar and approved

taste for doing, and the subscriber has acquired his art by dil-

igent attention and long practice.

Ladies Curls dressed over a short notice. may 30

Look at the picture in the advertisement. Discuss how Foster is presenting himself to the public in the picture. Why do you think he presents himself in this manner?
Read this together with Document 20a. How does seeing this advertisement and image of Foster shape/reshape your image of him when you read his letter?
How does this advertisement compare to a print advertisement today?
Research: How might you find out what types of job opportunities were available to Black people in Lowell during the mid-19th century, and what obstacles did they face in gaining employment in Lowell? What primary sources would you want to look at to find out the answers to these questions?

CitationHoratio W. Foster, The Lowell Advertiser, June 4, 1838Center for Lowell History, Microfilm Collection.

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