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Joseph Thomas along with his wife and children made Cooperstown into their home. He worked as a sexton of Christ Episcopal Church for over twenty years and was famous for catering parties held at Three Mile Point. Joseph Thomas was also well-known in town for providing music on his fiddle and working as chief oarsman for those on outings on Otsego Lake. He died in 1881 and is buried in the Christ Churchyard with his family. He is remembered for making his mark on Cooperstown as a prominent figure in the life of the village.
This portrait of Joseph Thomas was painted around 1855 and is attributed to Julius Gollmann (1852-1898), perhaps done while the artist was visiting Cooperstown. Through the attention to detail and mode of depiction Gollmann utilized in this portrait, we are shown how respected and revered Husbands was within the Cooperstown community.
Attributed to
Julius Gollmann
(died 1898)
Related Person
Joseph Tom Husbands
Joseph Thomas Husbands
Datec. 1855
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsSight: 36 × 23 3/4 in. (91.4 × 60.3 cm)
Object numberN0338.1955
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Stephen C. Clark
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextJoseph Thomas Husbands, was brought to Hartwick, New York by his owner, Joseph Dottin Husbands in 1812. Joseph Thomas was born in 1809 into an enslaved family in Barbados and was liberated in 1812 soon after arriving in Hartwick.Joseph Thomas along with his wife and children made Cooperstown into their home. He worked as a sexton of Christ Episcopal Church for over twenty years and was famous for catering parties held at Three Mile Point. Joseph Thomas was also well-known in town for providing music on his fiddle and working as chief oarsman for those on outings on Otsego Lake. He died in 1881 and is buried in the Christ Churchyard with his family. He is remembered for making his mark on Cooperstown as a prominent figure in the life of the village.
This portrait of Joseph Thomas was painted around 1855 and is attributed to Julius Gollmann (1852-1898), perhaps done while the artist was visiting Cooperstown. Through the attention to detail and mode of depiction Gollmann utilized in this portrait, we are shown how respected and revered Husbands was within the Cooperstown community.
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