Tillie Washington

Portrait photograph of Tillie Washington, taken by Rufus W. Holsinger in 1913. Reproduced from Jefferson's University.

Tillie Elanso Washington was a Black citizen of Albemarle County in the twentieth century whose portrait photograph forms a part of the Holsinger Studio Collection.

Biography

Washington was born in Albemarle County on September 10, 1890. He was the son of a barrel cooper and had four brothers and one sister as of the 1910 Census. Washington was able to read and write and labored on his family's home farm for at least the first three decades of his life.

On January 4, 1913, Washington had his portrait photograph taken by Rufus W. Holsinger, with this picture later forming a part of the Holsinger Studio Collection. He later married Marcella Washington and was living with her in New Jersey as of the 1930 Census (being employed as a cleaner during that time), although by the time of the 1940 Census they had moved back to Albemarle County and he was again laboring as a farmer. The couple had four sons and one daughter together. Washington also registered for the draft during both World Wars.

Washington died in Albemarle County on November 12, 1980.