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Museum object · Slavery and Freedom Objects

Postcard of the bodies of Nease Gillespie, John Gillespie and Jack Dillingham

August, 1906

Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Postcard with a black and white image of the bodies of Nease Gillespie, John Gillespie and Jack Dillingham. They are at the center of the image and are hanging from ropes by their necks. Their clothes are torn and several wounds are visible on their bodies and heads. A large tree is visible on the right side of the photograph and bags connected to the same ropes they are hanging from are visible in the background. They are surrounded by a large group of men and several children, many of which are looking at the camera. A man on the right side of the photograph has his right hand resting on the left shoulder of one of the hanging men. Printed in black text beneath the image is "Nease and John Gillespie and Jack Dillingham, murderers of Lyerly / family. Lynched August 6th, 1906. Salisbury, N. C.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2018.43.13.2

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