Newly Discovered Daguerreotypes of Abolitionist Thaddeus Hyatt Identified

Thaddeus Hyatt (1816-1901)

by Mathew Brady, circa 1845

Thaddeus Hyatt (1816-1901) was an inventor and abolitionist who claimed to have invented the vault light system used throughout New York City to provide light to basement spaces under sidewalks from the late 1840s until the era of electric lights. He filed patents to substantiate his claim, the first in 1845 for "thick glass discs set within iron grilles ... letting natural light into the basement and avoiding the need for gas lighting and its attendant fumes".

His business was located at 120 West Broadway, only a few blocks from one of Matthew Brady's New York galleries (1853-1859) at 359 Broadway. This might explain why all of the known photographs of Hyatt were taken by Brady's studio. Three of these images came from a single source; all with their original Brady cases. The earliest image came from another source a few months ago and was added to my collection. It is preserved in its original Brady case as well.

Thaddeus Hyatt (1816-1901)

by Mathew Brady, circa 1848

Hyatt was the President of the National Kansas Committee and a close friend of John Brown. Both abolitionists grew their beards in solidarity as a symbolic emulation of the biblical Moses as they prepared the deliverance of the anticipated freed slaves to the utopian state of Kansas; as seen in the photograph (bottom) by Brady in the collection of the Library of Congress.

Thaddeus Hyatt (1816-1901)

by Matthew Brady, circa 1853

After Brown's execution for treason Hyatt was summoned to appear before Congress to testify regarding his involvement in the insurrection. Hyatt refused to appear and was imprisoned for his refusal. This was the first time anybody had challenged the government's power in this area. Ultimately his case led to a Supreme Court decision affirming Congress's right to summon witnesses.

Thaddeus Hyatt (1816-1901)

by Matthew Brady, circa 1855

Thaddeus Hyatt was born in Rahway, New Jersey, and died on the Isle of Wight. His obituary in the New York Times, 27 July 1901, p. 7, reads in part, "Thaddeus Hyatt, an inventor, and who at the time of the anti-slavery agitation in this country was an ardent abolitionist and close friend of John Brown, died Thursday at Sandown, Isle of Wight, England... Mr. Hyatt invented the bullseye glass lens, used as a means of increasing the light in vaults under street sidewalks, and his invention made him wealthy.

Thaddeus Hyatt (1816-1901)

daguerreotype by Matthew Brady in the collection of the Library of Congress

"In the fifties, when the anti-slavery agitation began to assume definite form, Mr. Hyatt associated himself with the leaders in the movement and gave his means for the advancement of the doctrine of universal freedom. He became a close friend of John Brown, who whenever he came to New York made his headquarters at Mr. Hyatt's Morton Street house. After the execution of John Brown Mr. Hyatt was summoned to appear before the United States Senate to give evidence regarding the movements leading up to the Harper's Ferry demonstration. He refused and was committed to the Old Capitol Prison in Washington. Instead of taking his imprisonment seriously he had his prison room decorated and furnished and then issued invitations to his friends. He never lacked visitors.

Thaddeus Hyatt (1816-1901)

photograph by Matthew Brady in the collection of the Library of Congress

"From the prison Mr. Hyatt wrote home to the newspapers and kept up a fearless agitation of the question. Those who were opposed to him saw the error of their course, and on motion of the Senator who had caused his imprisonment he was ordered to leave the prison. He promptly telegraphed to New York: 'Have been kicked out. Will be home to-morrow.'"