[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War

New Jersey: 1938-1948.

Sold

Unbound. A collection of 93 black and white, sepia-toned, or color photographs measuring between 3“ x 1“ and 7“ x 5“, some with captions. Residue on some of the photos from previously being affixed to paper thus near fine.

A collection of photographs from an African-American family and group of friends living in New Jersey mostly between 1938 to 1948, with some later color photos from the late 1960s through the 1970s. The earlier photos feature the friends exploring cities and going to the beach to lie out in the sun, “like greased pigs, but happy.” Several captions list the people’s names in the group as well as small descriptions, “gorgeous, beautiful Shirley” for a young woman lounging on the beach and “Joe” sitting in the driver’s seat of his “Milk & Cream” truck. The friends are often seen smiling in the photographs and seated in or standing next to different automobiles from the 1940s with more captions, “Parting shot – cost a fortune in film!”

Several of the photographs show a young African-American man dressed in uniform and living in the “Colored” lodgings on base during World War II. There are three real photograph postcards with him dressed in a United States Army jacket and with a despondent look on his face. Other photographs show the young soldier with friends drinking beers or posing in front of the “Colored” sign on the outside of their living quarters. There are also three hand-colored photographs, one of a man in Army uniform, a young woman wearing an Army uniform, and another young woman dressed in red.

The later full-color photographs feature the family home and several pictures of them at a small party with friends. One picture is of a young African-American woman and her white friend about to play tennis together. There are also two Polaroid pictures of two children and their mother and grandmother.

An interesting collection of photographs documenting the lives of several African-Americans before, during, and after World War II.


Item #416294

item image

Item #416294 [Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War
[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War
[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War
[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War
[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War
[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War
[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War
[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War
[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War
[Archive]: Photographs of an African-American Family Before, During, and After the War