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Finding Aid for the African-American Photography Collection, circa 1900-1910


MS-2129

University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN


Encoded by: Erin Lawrimore, May 20, 2006

Summary Information
Title: African-American Photography Collection

Date/Date Range :   circa 1900-1910

Extent: 1.67 linear feet

Abstract:
This collection consists of 63 photographs of African-Americans taken in Knoxville during the early 20th century. Not all of the images have identifying marks, but some do include the names of the individuals shown or of the studios that created the pictures.

Call number: MS-2129

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Access and Use
Aquisition Information:
Collection was purchased by Special Collections.
Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Copyright:
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of Item], African-American Photography Collection, MS-2129. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Arrangement

Collection consists of four series:

  1. Series I: Group Photographs
  2. Series II: Women
  3. Series III: Men
  4. Series IV: Children

Biography / History

No biographical information is available beyond that included with the images.


Collection Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of 63 photographs of African-Americans living in Knoxville taken between approximately 1900 and 1910. Nearly all of them are posed portrait or group photographs, and most are either mounted for framing or enclosed in the paper envelopes provided by the photographer. Several also have writing on them identifying the individual(s) shown and/or the studio that created the image.

These photographs are particularly interesting because many of them show educated and successful African-American men and women living in the Mid-South long before the doctrine of segregation was officially repudiated. For example, this collection contains a number of photographs of a dentist named Dr. Boyd, who maintained an apparently successful office in Knoxville at this time. Another photograph shows a young woman named Pauline Fagg in a cap and gown, indicating that she had completed either a high school or a college education, a particularly unusual accomplishment for an African-American woman at that time. A number of family portraits are also included in this collection, providing an interesting glimpse into an underrepresented side of early 20th Century life in Tennessee.

Subject Terms

  • African-Americans -- Tennessee -- History.
  • African-American physicians -- History.
  • Portrait Photography -- United States.
  • Knoxville (Tenn.).
  • Nashville (Tenn.).
Contents List
   

Series I: Group Photographs
Box   1     Folder   1    
Image 1: Class photograph - schoolchildren, boys and girls. Undated. School not identified. Teacher: Mr. Brooks Students: Helen Wade, Luella Harden, Theora Grigsby, Maggie Chambers, Bessie White, Margerette Yardley, Margerette Davis, Fleda Williams, Flora Cobb, Mary Jones, Beulah Harmon, Bessie Settler, Sallie Tate, (?) Sarah Black, Clarence Howard, Charles Boyd, Charles Huddleston, Benjamine Griffits, Ruddie Carmichael, Clarence Adams, Clifford Cambell, Paris McCrary, George, Lamell Henderson, Henry Saffell, Herman Massengill, George Harper, Edison Stewart.
Box   1     Folder   1    
Image 2: Unidentified seated group (male and female) in unidentified building.

Box   1     Folder   1    
Image 3: Small group photo of ten unidentified individuals including one child. Photo is stamped on the back with "\"

Box   1     Folder   1    
Image 4: Four unidentified individuals sitting in a car. "Signal Mt. 1924" written on the front. Stamped on the back is: "Finished by Englerth Photo Supply Co. 111 E. 8th St. Chattanooga, Tenn."

Box   1     Folder   1    
Image 5: Unidentified group - mostly women and children, possibly from a school or institution. "Browder" written on front.

Box   1     Folder   1    
Image 6: Possible family portrait labeled "The Rev't; (?) - Wallace."

Box   1     Folder   1    
Image 7: Portrait of a couple labeled "Charles and Mary - Maryville, Tenn." Photo signed by L.D. Fagg.
Box   1     Folder   1    
Image 8: Photo of mother and child labeled: "Charles D. Boyd with mother Hattie Agnes at 704 Payne Ave. Knoxville, Tenn. - Location Reservoir Hill or Green School Hill or-"

Box   1     Folder   1    
Image 9: Three smartly dressed unidentified individuals, two women one man.

Box   2     Folder   1    
Image 1: Kebalah Temple No. 78 - Only Dr. C.S. Boyd identified (2 copies.)

Box   2     Folder   1    
Image 2: Unidentified group of men (some in military uniform) and women. One individual is identified as Dr. C.S. Boyd, dentist.

Box   2     Folder   1    
Image 3: Six individuals identified on the back as William Valentine, and Sister Mrs. Hattie A. Boyd, Mary Valentine, Sarah Allen, Emma Sharp, and Minnie Browner. Photo is imprinted with "Brazelton Chattanooga."

Box   2     Folder   1    
Image 4: Group photograph of the following people (as listed on the back): Dr.William Valentine, Ms. Hattie Boyd, Ms. Sarah Allen, Miss. Mary Valentine, Mrs. Minnie Browner (?) (Wife of Rev. Browner), Mrs. Emma V. Sharp, Mrs. Maggie Valentine (wife of Dr. Velentine), Beunetta Allen, Grace Allen. Photo is imprinted with "Brazelton Chattanooga."

Box   2     Folder   1    
Image 5: Photograph of "Austin 8a grade School 1912-1913" with initials written on each individual.

Box   2     Folder   1    
Image 6: Photo of two unidentified children, inscribed on the back with "To Dr. C.S. Boyd from Grace Patterson."

   

Series II: Women
Box   1     Folder   2    
Unidentified Women, Part 1

Scope Note:

Unidentified portraits of smartly dressed women. Some are imprinted with the studios of Browder, Brazelton or Taylor.
Box   1     Folder   3    
Unidentified Women, Part 2

Scope Note:

Unidentified portraits of smartly dressed women. Some are imprinted with the studios of Browder, Brazelton or Taylor.
Box   1     Folder   4    
Identified women

Scope Note:

Image 1: Identified as "Lonesome Kid."

Image 2: Portrait of "Pauline B. Fagg."

Image 3: Portrait of "Grace Allen."

Image 4: Portrait of "Ms. Ellen Jackson."

Image 5: Portrait of "Pauline Fagg Eden."

Image 6: Portrait of "Miss Laura Smith; Mrs. Wallace."

Image 7: Has the confusing inscription "To E. Anna Smith. of Vonore. Tenn. Lived with-out-In.Sam-McGee's.Home.Broth."

   

Series III: Men
Box   1     Folder   5    
Unidentified Men, Part 1

Scope Note:

Unidentified portraits of smartly dressed men. Some are imprinted with the studios of "Browder," "Weiser, Knoxville, Tenn." or "Lay, Nashville, Tenn."

Box   1     Folder   6    
Unidentified Men, Part 2

Scope Note:

Unidentified portraits of smartly dressed men. Some are imprinted with the studios of "Browder," "Weiser, Knoxville, Tenn." or "Lay, Nashville, Tenn."

Box   1     Folder   7    
Identified Men

Scope Note:

Image 1: Inscribed "Compliments of Uncle David to Dr. Boyd."

Image 2: Individual identified as E.D. Fagg, with "Ed Fagg?" written on the background.

Image 3: "Ed Fagg -- Fagg Studio"

Image 4: Portrait of "Mr. Prof. Hugh Fagg. Teacher," signed L.W. Hill.
Box   2     Folder   2    
Unidentified Men

Scope Note:

Unidentified portraits of smartly dressed men. Some are imprinted with the studios of "Browder," "Weiser, Knoxville, Tenn." or "Lay, Nashville, Tenn."

Box   2     Folder   3    
Identified Men

Scope Note:

Image 1: Individual standing in "Dr. Boyd's Dentist Office," probably Dr. Boyd.

Image 2: Photograph of Dr. Boyd's Dentist office.

Image 3: Photograph of Dr. Boyd's Dentist office One includes an individual - possibly Dr. Boyd.
   

Series IV: Children
Box   1     Folder   8    
Children

Scope Note:

Image 1: Unidentified boy with a dog.

Image 2: Photograph of a baby labeled "David Springsteen Jr. 3 mo. Old Bernette Allen's Baby - Robinson, New Rochelle"