This is an albumen photograph mounted on cardboard showing John Brown. Written on the back of the photograph is "photograph of John Brown taken for me in Albany, New York about the year 1857" and signed by William Barnes, Albany, New York. Barnes was secretary of the New York State Kansas Committee in 1856-1857. Brown was an abolitionist and one of the free-state leaders. He came to Kansas Territory in 1855 and left in 1859 but in that time, he was involved in several skirmishes with proslavery factions. Brown's acts of violence against proslavery people made him a legendary figure by the time he left Kansas Territory. He was hung on December 2, 1859 after a failed attempt to attack the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.