Josephine Sloman at Cottage in Parry Sound, Ontario

Josephine Sloman is pictured holding a wooden oar at a holiday cabin in Parry Sound, Ontario in this undated black and white photograph. Her husband, Albert, is likely the person standing to her left, visible through the trees. This photograph was in the possession of the Rick Bell family, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Sloman - Bell families are descended from former Black slaves from the United States who settled in Ontario.

Iris Sloman with unidentified woman and sister Helen Sloman [n.d.]

Iris Sloman, at left, with her sister, Helen, far right, and an unidentified woman on the beach in this undated photo. The location could possibly be Port Dalhousie or Parry Sound. This photo was among the family memorabilia retrieved by Rick Bell from his mother's attic in St. Catharines in the 1980s. The Bell - Sloman family descends from former African American slaves who settled in the London and St. Catharines areas.

Josephine and Albert Sloman at the Beach [n.d.]

Josephine and Albert Sloman are pictured in this undated black and white photograph. The beach location is unknown. This photo was among the Sloman - Bell family memorabilia in the possession of Rick Bell, grandson of Josephine and Albert. The family is descended from Black slaves who escaped from the United States and settled in southern Ontario.

Roy and Shirley (Sloman) Johnson [n.d]

Roy and Shirley (Sloman) Johnson pose in this black and white photograph set in an unknown location. The Sloman - Bell ancestry includes former Black slaves from the United States who escaped to Canada.Roy Johnson is believed to be the man who donated the tank to the Lake St. Armoury in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Charles Henry Bell, St. Catharines [n.d.]

Charles Henry Bell is pictured in this undated black and white photograph outside a house on Geneva St. in St. Catharines, Ontario. In 1894, Charles Bell married Mary E. Tyrell. and they had eight children. Charles Bell ran an ice and coal business in St. Catharines in the early 1900s. This photo was in the possession of his grandson, Rick Bell. The Bell and associated families have connections to former Black slaves from the United States.

Mary Tyrell Bell [n.d.]

A cabinet card portrait of a young Mary Tyrell (later Bell). The photograph is undated, however, it is believed to be from the 1880s or 1890s. Mary Tyrell married Charles Bell in 1894 in St. Catharines, Ontario. They initially settled in Erie, Pennsylvania but relocated to St. Catharines less than three years later. This photograph was in the possession of Mary Tyrell Bell's grandson, Rick Bell. The Bell family is descended from Black slaves from the United States.

Iris Sloman [n.d.]

A young Iris Sloman is pictured in this portrait, date and location unknown. Iris Sloman married Richard Bell in 1939 and the couple resided in St. Catharines, Ontario. Her son, Rick Bell, retrieve this and other family photos from his mother's attic in the 1980s. Branches of the Bell -Sloman family are descended from African American slaves.

Albert and Josephine Sloman [n.d.]

A coloured photographic portrait of Albert and Josephine Sloman. The location and date of the photograph are unknown. The Sloman - Bell families were from the St. Catharines and London areas of Ontario. Their descendants include former African American slaves who settled in Canada. This photo was in the possession of Albert and Josephine Sloman's grandson, Rick Bell, of St. Catharines.

Vera Sloman, Richard Bell, Iris Sloman Bell and Bert Sloman [n.d.]

This black and white family photo is undated yet believed to be in 1939 on the wedding day of Richard and Iris Bell. Pictured in this photo are, from right, Vera, Richard Bell, Iris Sloman Bell, and Bert Sloman. This photo was in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, son of Richard and Iris. The Bell - Sloman families have descendants who are former African American slaves.Bert Sloman (Albert Edward Sloman) passed away in 1986 at Kitchener - Waterloo, Ontario. His wife, Vera Matilda Sloman, passed away January 4, 2011 at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. They had a son, Ron Sloman.

Sloman Family Photo [n.d.]

This black and white photograph is believed to be of Albert Sloman (back left), Josephine Sloman (centre) and an unidentified man (right). Iris Sloman, daughter of Albert and Josephine, is thought to be in the front row, centre. The location and date of the photo is unknown, however, it could be in the early 1920s. This photograph was in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, son of Iris and Richard Bell. Relatives of the Sloman - Bell family are former Black slaves from the United States.

Portrait of Young Woman by I. H. Lewis, Photographer [n.d.]

An unidentified young Black woman is featured in this cabinet card portrait by photographer I. H. (Isaac) Lewis, of Toronto. The photographer's name and address is stamped in gold lettering on the lower front of the card. The address is given as 106 1/2 Queen St. W., Toronto. This cabinet card was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Bell - Sloman family relatives include former Black slaves from the United States who settled in Canada.Isaac H. Lewis was a photographer in Toronto from 1886 - 1900. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Portrait of "Ruth", by George A. Hemstreet, Photographer, Milton [n.d.]

A woman identified only by the broach at her neck as "Ruth" is pictured here in a black and white cabinet card photograph by G. A. Hemstreet. The photo is undated, but believed to be from the late 1870s or early 1880s. The photographer's name is stamped in black ink along the bottom of the card: "G. A. Hemstreet, Photographer, Milton, Ont." This cabinet card was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, whose relatives include former Black slaves from the United States.G. A. Hemstreet, also known as George A. Hemstreet, was a photographer in Milton, Ontario from 1877 - 1887. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Photograph of Unidentified Man by J. W. Cole, Photographer [n.d.]

This is a small cabinet card of an unidentified man, photographed by J. W. Cole, of Brampton, Ont. He is possibly a relative of the Bell - Sloman family, whose descendants include former Black slaves who settled in Canada. While this photograph is undated, it is believed to be taken between 1865 and 1884. The photographer's stamp is printed in gold lettering along the bottom of the card. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines.Two photographers by the name of Cole are known to have worked in Brampton, Ontario in the latter half of the 19th century. J.F. (John W.?) is listed as a photographer in 1882, while John W. Cole operated from 1865-1884. John W. Cole is also listed as a daguerrean artist, that is, he produced daguerreotypes. He also dabbled in commerce, selling fancy goods. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Two Black Gentlemen Photographed by John Cooper, London/St. Thomas, Ont. [n.d.]

An undated cabinet card of two Black men photographed by John Cooper, who operated as a photographer in London, Ont. and St. Thomas, Ont. from 1857 - 1890. The reverse of the photograph features the photographer's stamp in coloured ink. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines. The Sloman - Bell family have relatives who include former Black slaves from the United States. John Cooper is listed as a photographer and daguerrean artist in 1857 - 1890 in London, Ont. and in 1874 in St. Thomas, Ont. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990. "Cabinet card photographs were first introduced in 1866. They were initially employed for landscapes rather than portraitures. Cabinet cards replaced Carte de visite photographs as the popular mode of photography. Cabinet cards became the standard for photographic portraits in 1870. Cabinet cards experienced their peak in popularity in the 1880's. Cabinet cards were still being produced in the United States until the early 1900's and continued to be produced in Europe even longer. The best way to describe a cabinet card is that it is a thin photograph that is mounted on a card that measures 4 1/4″ by 6 1/2″. Cabinet cards frequently have artistic logos and information on the bottom or the reverse of the card which advertised the photographer or the photography studio's services." Source: http://cabinetcardgallery.wordpress.com/category/cabinet-card-history/

Cabinet Card of African Canadian by Photographer W. J. Rea, of Windsor [n.d.]

An unidentified African Canadian man is featured in this cabinet card by W. J. Rea, photographer, of Windsor, Ontario. The man appears to be in official dress, possibly of a religious or legal nature. This cabinet card bears the stamp of the photographer, W. J. Rea, in black ink along the bottom of the card and on the reverse. While it is undated, it is likely from the 1870s or 1880s. This cabinet card was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Sloman - Bell family descendants include African American slaves from the United States who settled in Canada."Cabinet card photographs were first introduced in 1866. They were initially employed for landscapes rather than portraitures. Cabinet cards replaced Carte de visite photographs as the popular mode of photography. Cabinet cards became the standard for photographic portraits in 1870. Cabinet cards experienced their peak in popularity in the 1880's. Cabinet cards were still being produced in the United States until the early 1900's and continued to be produced in Europe even longer. The best way to describe a cabinet card is that it is a thin photograph that is mounted on a card that measures 4 1/4″ by 6 1/2″. Cabinet cards frequently have artistic logos and information on the bottom or the reverse of the card which advertised the photographer or the photography studio's services." Source: http://cabinetcardgallery.wordpress.com/category/cabinet-card-history/