African American photograph
collection
Emory University
Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-6887
marbl@emory.edu
Permanent link: http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/8xwzp
Table of Contents
Descriptive Summary
| Title: | African American photograph collection |
|---|---|
| Call Number: | Manuscript Collection No. 958 |
| Extent: | 3 linear ft. (6 boxes), 32 oversized papers (OP), and 3 oversized bound volumes (OBV) |
| Abstract: | Artificially created collection of photographs and photograph albums of African American individuals, including a number of portraits taken by Carl Van Vechten and African American photographers such as Addison Scurlock. |
| Language: | Materials entirely in English. |
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
Unrestricted access.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.
Source
Collected from various sources, 2007.
Citation
[after identification of item(s)], African American photograph collection, Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.
Processing
Processed by Elizabeth Roke, March 23, 2006.
Collection Description
Scope and Content Note
The African American photograph collection is an artificially created collection acquired through a number of small accessions. The collection contains photographs and photograph albums of African American individuals from the 1880s to the 1960s, primarily in the South. Images depict entertainers, soldiers, domestic workers, families, children, graduation classes, college students, and congregational members. The collection includes a number of portraits taken by Carl Van Vechten and African American photographers such as Addison Scurlock. The collection also contains a photograph album compiled by a Morehouse College student.
Arrangement Note
Arranged by subject.
Selected Search Terms
Personal Names
Topical Terms
- African American children--Photographs.
- African American churches--Photographs.
- African American college students--Photographs.
- African American entertainers--Photographs.
- African American families--Photographs.
- African American fire fighters--Photographs.
- African American photographers.
- African American soldiers--Photographs.
- African American women--Photographs.
- African American women domestics--Photographs.
- African Americans--Michigan--Detroit--Photographs.
- African Americans--Southern States--Photographs.
- African Americans--Southern States--Portraits.
- African Americans--Religion.
- Portrait photography--United States.
- Photography--United States--History--19th century.
- Photography--United States--History--20th century.
- World War, 1939-1945--African Americans.
Form/Genre Terms
Container List
| Identified photographs | ||
| Box | Folder | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Abernathy, Ralph D. |
| 5 | 9 | Adam, George Washington, Noble Studio, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1882 |
| 5 | 39 | Alexander, Raymond Pace with wife Sadie and their two children, inscribed to Honorable William H. Hastie and his wife, July 1938 |
| 4 | 8 | Allison, Kenneth, various photographs as young boy, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1950 |
| OP2 | Almenella Beauty Institute graduation class, New York, July 1935 | |
| 1 | 2 | Angelic Gospel Singers |
| OP1 | Apex School of Beauty Culture graduation class, Standard Photo Service, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1946 | |
| OP23 | Atlanta University Men, Officer's Reserve Training Camp, Ft. Des Moines, Iowa, August 5, 1917, names inscribed | |
| 1 | 3 | 17th Annual Baptist Ministers Conference, Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, July 1951 |
| OP6 | 46th Annual Missionary Baptist Convention, Kansas City, Kansas, October 5, 1937, in front of the First Baptist Church, Williams Studio photographers | |
| 1 | 4 | Baker, Oscar W., Bay City, Michigan |
| 1 | 5 | Bay State Singers |
| 1 | 6 | Bethel AME Senior Usher Board, New York, 1942 |
| 1 | 7 | Blind Boys of Jackson Harmoneers |
| 1 | 8 | Blue Jay Singers, Birmingham, Alabama |
| 1 | 9 | Bradford Specials, Los Angeles, California |
| 1 | 10 | Braithwaite Business School graduating class, A. Hansen's Studio, New York, 1948 |
| 4 | 7 | Brandon, J.H. and Alice, various photographs, Turner Studios, Florence, Alabama and Gebhardt & Co. Cottage Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee, 1880s-1890s |
| 1 | 11 | Brewster Center, Detroit, Michigan |
| 1 | 12 | Brown, James |
| 1 | 13 | Brown, Wini |
| 1 | 14 | Browne, Ella H., Louisville, Kentucky |
| 1 | 15 | Carroll, Rev. Richard and unidentified others next to a carriage, Columbia, South Carolina |
| 1 | 16 | Christian Light Quintet, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1 | 17 | Clark, John William, lynching, Cartersville, Georgia, October 1, 1930 |
| 5 | 43 | The Compatibles, inscribed with names, Atlanta, Georgia, circa 1970s |
| 3 | 19 | Copeland, Martha, inscribed to Joe Davis, Vithana Photo Studio, New York City, New York |
| 1 | 18 | Crocker, William F. [AMEZ minister] |
| 1 | 19 | Davis Sisters, Gaston DeVigne photographer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 4 | 5 | DePriest, Oscar Stanton, R.D. Jones photographer, circa 1930 |
| 5 | 25 | Diggs, Mrs. George W, Thomson Studio, Kansas City, Missouri |
| 5 | 38 | Dihigo, Martin, baseball player in uniform, 1939 |
| 1 | 20 | Dixie Hummingbirds |
| 2 | 24 | Emory family, [circa 1940s] |
| 1 | 21 | Evangelist Gospel Singers, Birmingham, Alabama |
| 1 | 22 | "Future Citizens" in front of floating chapel, Paducah, Kentucky |
| 1 | 23 | "Future Citizens" in front of floating chapel, Paducah, Kentucky |
| 1 | 24 | Gaither, Gloria and Ruth Juanita Gaither graduations, Kelly's Studio, Atlanta, Georgia |
| OP26 | Garvey, Marcus and Junius C. Austin | |
| 5 | 36 | Goshon, Colonel Ruth, Bogardus Studio, New York City, circus giant, signed |
| 1 | 25 | Gospel Messengers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 3 | 12 | Greater St. John Baptist Church Gosper Choir, Chicago, Illinois, Patton's Studio, 1956 |
| 1 | 26 | Harmonizing Four |
| 4 | 13 | Harmony Singers, inscribed with names, H.E. Young photographer, April 8, 1922 |
| 1 | 27 | Henderson, Lucius S. and children, Atlanta, Georgia |
| 5 | 26 | Hierommons, H, Omaha, Nebraska |
| OP27 | - | Howard University, Alpha Phi Alpha, [1920s] |
| OP28 | - | Howard University Beautician's School, [1920s] |
| OP29 | - | Howard University baseball team, [1920s] |
| 6 | 2 | Howard University baseball player, [1920s] |
| OP30 | - | Howard University Class photograph, 1910 |
| OP31 | - | Howard University Law School, 1912 |
| 6 | 3 | Howard University student organizations, [1910s-1920s] |
| OP32 | - | Howard University student organizations, [1910s-1920s] |
| 6 | 6 | Jackson, Jesse, Democratic Convention, 1968 |
| 3 | 18 | Johnson, Margaret, inscribed to Mr. Davis, Elcha Studio, New York City, New York |
| 6 | 5 | Jolining, Abraham, "Photograph of Young Boy," Augusta, Georgia, undated |
| 2 | 25 | King, Martin Luther, Jr. with Coretta Scott King, Ralph Abernathy and others at dinner hosted by Dr. Bell of Atlanta, Georgia |
| 1 | 28 | Latour, Nick and Jo Baker |
| 3 | 6 | Leonard, Rev. J.C., Oxford, Mississippi, January 15, 1908 |
| 1 | 29 | Lil' Cumber Attractions, Los Angeles, California |
| 5 | 40 | Louis, Joe, Brown and Bigelow, 1935 |
| 3 | 21 | Marshall, Fredye, various |
| OP21 | Marshall, Fredye, various | |
| 3 | 22 | McFay, Nathaniel "Monk," Nathaniel "Monk" McFay Band, Hawaii, February 1938 |
| 1 | 30 | McGinnis, Charlie, in military uniform |
| 2 | 26 | McKay, Claude |
| 2 | 27 | Maddox, Mrs., Atlanta, Georgia |
| 1 | 31 | Martin, Roberta |
| 1 | 32 | Melody Aries Singers, Kansas City, Missouri |
| 3 | 7 | Michaux, Elder |
| 1 | 33 | Mighty Gospel Firelarks |
| 3 | 4 | Nat Towles Orchestra, undated |
| 1 | 34 | National Association of Colored Women's Clubs 1962 convention dinner, Washington, DC, 1962 |
| OP16 | National Baptist Publishing Board [?], Lay Studio, Nashville, Tennessee | |
| 3 | 15 | National Baptist Publishing Board [?] |
| OP17 | National Christian Missionary Convention, First meeting, photograph taken on the grounds of the State Penitentiary at Nashville, Tennessee, George H. Anderson, photographer | |
| OP8 | National Dental Association, 42nd Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, August 1-5, 1955 | |
| OP20 | National Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons and Auxiliaries, Annual Convention, Detroit, Michigan, banquet dinner, August 10-17, 1957, Spencer Photographers | |
| 2 | 28 | Newnan, Georgia AME Church congregation, April 6, 1942 |
| 1 | 35 | Oakland, California USO, Joseph Studios, Oakland, California |
| 3 | 11 | The Old Trinity C.M.E. Church, Milledgeville, Georgia |
| 1 | 36 | Palmer Brothers |
| OP22 | Parker High School, Class of 1950, Birmingham, Alabama, Brown's Studio, May 1950 | |
| 1 | 37 | Parks, Gordon and Hilda Simms, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1 | 38 | Patterson, Esmond, Atlanta, Georgia |
| 1 | 39 | Pilgrim Travelers, Los Angeles, California |
| 1 | 40 | Pleasant Green Baptist Church congregation, July 25, 1915 |
| 1 | 41 | Price, Leontyne |
| 3 | 5 | Pritchard, Will, Canton, Mississippi, undated |
| 5 | 41 | Purks, James interviewing Martin Luther King, Ralph Abernathy, and Fred L. Shuttlesworth at a Birmingham, Alabama rally, undated |
| OP7 | "The Queens and their Attendants as they appeared in McDaniel's Coronation," undated | |
| 2 | 29 | Reid, James H., National Alliance of Postal Employees, [circa 1960s] |
| OP3 | Richmond High School basketball team Richmond, [?] | |
| 1 | 42 | Sensational Gospel Kings, Coards Studio, Charleston, South Carolina |
| 1 | 43 | Sensational Nightingales |
| OP25 | Simmons, Roscoe Colkins (Colonel), various | |
| 5 | 45 | Simon Sam, Tirésias Antoine Auguste, President of Haiti, circa 1900 |
| 1 | 44 | Sister Jessie Mae Renfro, Houston, Texas |
| 1 | 45 | Spirit of Memphis Quartet |
| 2 | 30 | St. Martin Human Relations Council, Atlanta, Georgia, 1965 |
| 1 | 46 | St. Paul AME Church, Tampa, Florida |
| 1 | 47 | Smith, Harrison Eugene of the Echoes of Zion Sings, Atlanta, Georgia |
| 1 | 48 | Smith, William J., Detroit, Michigan, August 23, 1899 |
| 1 | 49 | Stewart, Warden Jim with 4 African American prisoners working as cooks, Fulton County "Bellwood" prison camp, Georgia |
| 3 | 20 | Top Hatters, circa 1940s |
| OP4 | Townsend, Arthur Melvin and others | |
| 6 | 4 | Turner, Lorenzo Dow (photographer: Arthur P. Bedou) |
| 1 | 50 | Tuskegee Institute homecoming king and queen, Tuskegee, Alabama |
| 3 | 14 | U.S. Cruiser New York, Shepherd Photo Co., St. Paul, Minnesota [photograph affixed to button] |
| 5 | 47 | Vaughn, Betty |
| 1 | 51 | Ward, Clara |
| 1 | 52 | White, Mr. and Mrs. C.J., with Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Washington |
| 5 | 37 | White, Reverend Sampson |
| 1 | 53 | Witherspoon, John |
| 1 | 54 | Wolfe, Elliott, Scurlock photography, Washington, DC |
| 1 | 55 | Yarborough, Evalen in military uniform James N. Byrd photographer |
| Unidentified | ||
| Photographers | ||
| 3 | 10 | Adams, Alexander L., photographer, Atlanta, Georgia, unidentified woman |
| 1 | 56 | Auditorium Studio, Atlanta, Georgia Baseball players |
| 2 | 31 | Ball and Thomas, Cincinnati, Ohio, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 4 | 6 | Barney, photographer, portrait of unidentified man |
| 1 | 57 | Baumann photographers, Macon, Georgia portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 34 | Bell Studio, Madison, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 5 | 33 | Brockway Studio, Lincoln, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified baby |
| 1 | 58 | Bundy Studio, Richmond, Indiana, portrait of an unidentified man |
| OP19 | The Camera and Card Shop, Detroit, Michigan, group of men and women, circa 1940s | |
| 1 | 59 | Corday Studios, Columbus, Georgia, portrait of an unidentified boy |
| 5 | 32 | Cottrell Studio, Russellville, Kentucky, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 30 | Dawson Studio, Little Rock, Arkansas, portrait of an unidentified baby |
| 5 | 31 | Dawson Studio, Little Rock, Arkansas, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 28 | Doane Studio, Carrollton, Missouri, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 29 | Doane Studio, Carrollton, Missouri, portrait of an unidentified girl |
| 5 | 27 | Eason Studio, Chadron, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 5 | 1 | E.E. Henry, photographer, Leavenworth, Kansas, portrait of unidentified baby |
| 4 | 15 | Emory Studio, Omaha, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified man holding a hat and cane |
| 3 | 16 | Forster, Henry, photographer, Detroit, Michigan, portrait of an unidentified family |
| OP15 | Fowler, Lewis C., photographer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, portrait of unidentified man | |
| 4 | 2 | Frank Brown's Photos, photographer, group of women in formal dress, 1950s |
| OP18 | F. Williams, photographer, Detroit, Michigan, group of women, circa 1950s | |
| 4 | 4 | F. Williams, photographer, Detroit, Michigan, group of women, circa 1950s |
| 4 | 16 | Fyock Studio, Omaha and South Omaha, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 4 | 17 | Gamer Studio, Omaha, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 4 | 18 | Gamer Studio, Omaha, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 4 | 19 | Grabill Portrait & View Co., Deadwood, South Dakota, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 4 | 20 | Grand Central Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska, unidentified family |
| 5 | 11 | G.W. McDonald Studio, Denver, Colorado, portrait of an unidentified man with cigar and cane |
| 5 | 12 | G.W. McDonald Studio, Denver, Colorado, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 13 | G.W. McDonald Studio, Denver, Colorado, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 4 | 21 | Hayden Studio, Lincoln, Nebraska, portrait of two unidentified women |
| 1 | 60 | H. DeLaigle, Savannah, Georgia, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 2 | 1 | Herman photographers, Savannah, Georgia, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 2 | Hughes & Sandberg, Omaha, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 2 | 2 | Jensen Brothers photo studios, Chicago, Illinois, portrait of two men |
| 5 | 3 | Johnson Studio, Salt Lake City, Utah, portrait of an unidentified baby |
| 2 | 3 | Johnston's Studio, Savannah, Georgia, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 2 | 32 | J.P. Ball and Son, Helena, Montana, portrait of unidentified man |
| 5 | 4 | Kauffman's Studio, Louisiana, Missouri, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 5 | Kelley & Co. Studio, Lincoln, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 2 | 4 | Kelly Studio, Atlanta, Georgia, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 6 | Kennedy Studio, York, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 4 | 1 | Langford P. James, Fine Photography, two photographs or women groups |
| 5 | 23 | L.E. Scruby Studio, Mazeppa, Minnesota, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 8 | Loryea Studios, Spokane, Washington, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 3 | 17 | Mahon and Taylor, Nashville, Tennessee, unidentified couple |
| 5 | 14 | McInturff Studio, Hutchinson, Kansas, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 4 | 3 | McNutt Photos, Detroit, Michigan, group of women |
| 5 | 15 | Mitchell Studio, Oskaloosa, Iowa, portrait of an unidentified toddler |
| 2 | 5 | Moore, C. Hennette, New Orleans, Louisiana, "Old Mammy," seated woman smoking a pipe |
| 2 | 6 | Neighbors Bros., Louisville, Kentucky, portrait of unidentified woman |
| 5 | 10 | Noble Studio, Lincoln, Nebraska, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 5 | 17 | Oberholtzer Studio, Paola, Kansas, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 4 | 14 | Obermüller & Kern, New York City, portrait of "freak show" circus performer |
| 2 | 7 | Paramount Studios, Atlanta, Georgia, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 19 | Pickerill Studio, Little Rock, Arkansas, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 2 | 33 | Polk's Studio, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, portrait of an unidentified man in a military uniform |
| 2 | 34 | Poole Studio, Atlanta, Georgia, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 7 | R. Kennett Studio, successor to Lickman & Co., Denver, Colorado, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 20 | Rayburn & Kertson, Little Rock, Arkansas, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 2 | 8 | Reeves Studio, Atlanta, Georgia, Bible study group |
| 5 | 21 | Ross Studio, Springfield, Illinois, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 5 | 22 | Sanders Studio, Little Rock, Arkansas, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 2 | 35 | Sepia Arts, Atlanta, Georgia, portrait of an unidentified couple |
| 2 | 9 | Success Portrait Company, Chattanooga, Tennessee, portrait of a couple |
| 2 | 36 | T.E. Askew, Atlanta, Georgia, portrait of an unidentified man, 1912 |
| 2 | 10 | "This Is the Army," cast members, Carl Van Vechten |
| 5 | 24 | Thomason Studio, Louisiana, Missouri, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 2 | 37 | Weems Photo Studio, Jacksonville, Florida, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 5 | 18 | W.H. Parsel Studio, Little Rock, Arkansas, portrait of an unidentified woman |
| 4 | 9 | Wilde, J.W.F., Congress and Whitaker Streets, Savannah, Georgia, hand-tinted daguerreotype of fire-fighter, circa 1850 |
| 3 | 23 | Williams, Verne O., photographer, Kansas City, Missouri, 1916, portrait of unidentified man |
| 3 | 1 | Woodall, Macon Georgia, portrait of an unidentified child |
| 5 | 16 | W.J. Moose's Art Car, North Carolina, portrait of an unidentified man |
| 5 | 35 | Wyman & Co. Studio, Boston, Massachusetts, portrait of an unidentified Civil War veteran in Grand Army of the Republic uniform |
| 3 | 24 | Young Studios, St. Louis, Missouri, unidentified man at piano and woman at microphone |
| Places | ||
| 2 | 11 | Albany, Georgia family with African American domestics, Albany, Georgia |
| 2 | 12 | Atlanta, Georgia family |
| 2 | 13 | Savannah, Georgia resident |
| 2 | 14 | Fort Robinson, Nebraska, African American entertainer with two soldiers at a USO performance, 1958 |
| OP5 | Tuskegee, Alabama, Tuskegee Institute building construction | |
| 2 | 15 | Du River, Liberia, Africa snapshots, 1929 |
| 2 | 16 | [Unidentified city], Unidentified wedding party, Bethel AME church |
| 5 | 46 | Haiti, circa 1900 [albumen photographs, including images of people and places] |
| People | ||
| 3 | 13 | Child, holding a book [tintype] |
| 2 | 17 | Children, unidentified portraits |
| OP9 | - | Children, two boys, unidentified portrait [curved glass frame] |
| 2 | 18 | Children, unidentified snapshots |
| 2 | 19 | Entertainers and musicians, unidentified |
| 3 | 8 | Groups |
| 4 | 11 | Man, unidentified portrait, daguerreotype, circa 1845 |
| 4 | 10 | Man in fire fighter's uniform, ambrotype, circa 1860 |
| OP10 | Man in military uniform, unidentified portrait [1 of 2] [curved glass frame] | |
| OP11 | Man in military uniform, unidentified portrait [2 of 2] [curved glass frame] | |
| OP24 | Man in military parade uniform, holding a rifle | |
| 2 | 20 | Men, unidentified portraits |
| 3 | 2 | Men in military uniforms, unidentified portraits |
| OP12 | - | Woman, unidentified portrait [1of 3] [curved glass frame] |
| OP13 | - | Woman, unidentified portrait [2 of 3] [curved glass frame] |
| OP14 | - | Woman, unidentified portrait [2 of 3] [curved glass frame] |
| 2 | 21 | Women, unidentified portraits |
| 2 | 22 | Women, unidentified snapshots |
| 2 | 23 | Unidentified snapshots |
| Photograph Albums | ||
| 3 | 3 | Brown, Walter, album from Anthony's Restaurant, Atlanta, Georgia, [circa 1940s] [1 of 2] |
| 3 | 4 | Brown, Walter, album from Anthony's Restaurant, Atlanta, Georgia, [circa 1940s] [2 of 2] |
| 4 | 12 | Burns, Reginald, album with family and Virginia State College, 1934-1935 |
| 6 | 1 | Coleman, Harry D., World War II photographs from induction in Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania to active duty in New Caledonia, Cebu Province in the Philippine Islands and Yokohama, Japan, December 1942-January 1946 |
| OBV1 | Morehouse College, [circa 1957] | |
| 3 | 9 | Smith, Mamie, and her performing group, photograph album, undated |
| OBV3 | Talcott, C.G. (Mrs.), 1908. Photos are of a car trip from Palm Beach, Florida to her home in Silver Creek, New York. The album depicts many scenes of African American life in the south at the turn of the century, including adults and children at work and at play. Images from Palm Beach, Florida include: young black caddies on a golf course; a laundress and her family; African American children playing in a chicken coop; African American women playing baseball; and an African American delivery man. Also included are photos taken in an area of Palm Beach called "The Styx," property owned by James Munyon and rented to African Americans. The album also contains photos of Munyon. Images of St. Augstine, Florida include: a photograph of the slave market. Photographs of Camden, South Carolina include: an African American delivery man, and African American children on a cotton plantation. There are additional photos of African American children at an unidentified location, as well as early car racing on a Florida beach. | |
| 5 | 42 | World War II, unidentified military unit, 1940s |
| OBV2 | Unidentified upper class family, western New York, [1920s] | |
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