An extremely rare photograph from the Civil War era of the slave that helped save the Virginia home of Confederate Gen. Robert Lee was acquired by the National Park Service after an agency volunteer discovered the picture being sold on eBay.
The picture shows Selina Gray, Lee and his family's head housekeeper, along with two girls that are probably Gray's daughters. At the back of the picture is an inscription that reads "Gen Lees Slaves Arlington Va."
The newly discovered photograph was unveiled at the Arlington House plantation which served as the home for Lee and dozens of slaves prior to the Civil War.
According to park officials, the image is only the second known picture of slaves that lived at Arlington.
"It's extremely rare to have an identified photo of an enslaved person," said Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service. "Since slaves were considered property, it's very rare to have a photo where you can identify the people in the photo."
Dean DeRosa, a volunteer for the National Park Service, discovered the picture being sold on eBay for a price of $20. DeRosa told WJLA that he immediately recognized Gray.
"What I find so fascinating is how well dressed Selina and her daughters are in this photo," said DeRosa, who is also a collector of vintage photography.
Save Arlington House, a nonprofit organization, donated $700 to be able to obtain the picture. Its seller was located in England, who said that the photograph was found inside a box of unwanted pictures.
Gray is mentioned in history books as a slave who helped save Arlington House and its treasures after the family of Lee left and the site was taken over by Union soldiers during the Civil War.
The Arlington House, which was originally intended to be a monument to George Washington, was entrusted by Mary Custis Lee, Lee's wife, to Gray as the family fled.
Gray is known to have gotten into a confrontation with a general of the Union regarding soldiers that were stealing Washington family heirlooms that were stored in the house, eventually being able to have the items put under guard.
"Selina was an incredibly courageous woman," said Anzelmo-Salres. "She stood up to Union generals to say save this place, save these priceless heirlooms from President George Washington that were here then in the home of a Confederate general."
Historians believe that the picture was taken in the 1860s right beside the slave quarters of the estate.
