A Steady Ride

This nineteenth century photograph features an anonymous African-American woman in an ox-drawn cart.

A Steady Ride

Oxen were slow and steady and were well suited to pull plows and carts in Delaware. They were able to pull through mud and swamps better than horses and had been used since early times. On the Delaware Flag the ox is one of the symbols on the flag and represents animal husbandry.

This photograph is from the Purnell Collection. The collection contains representations of a wide range of subjects and time periods that give an excellent view of Sussex County life. There are also photographs from Kent and New Castle Counties. The collection is divided into three categories: places, with street scenes, businesses, buildings and transportation; portraits and subjects.