Between the Covers

Hardcover. Oblong folio measuring 14" x 10". String-tied green leather with tooled decorations. Contains 224 sepia-toned or black and white photographs measuring between 1" x 1.5" and 5" x 7" with captions. Near fine photo album with tiny tears with near fine photographs. Numerous photos have been removed.

A photo album kept by an African-American man during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The man has hand titled the album “Photographs of Persons and Places that Record Memories of Friendships and Experiences.” The album is split in two sections the first is titled “Family Portraits” showing an older couple, presumably the parents of the photographer, and a young woman maybe a sister or girlfriend. Some of the photos are candids while other professional portraits as well as amateur portraits. The next section is titled “friends” and begins with a page featuring portraits of young women followed by pages of candids from events and parties with friends. One photo show three girls dressed up and smiling with the camera over which one of the women has signed it “good lucky for a swell kid! Carmelita.” Other photos show people dancing on a beach, having a picnic, and working on a farm. The compiler appears to have spent time with the army presumably during World War II and some of the photos show men on a base posed on airplanes and equipment, boxing, and getting haircuts. A skiing trip is also seen here with images of people clumsily trying to navigate the mountain and smiling as they fall. Also pictured is a wedding celebration, a parade, and a school dance. The photographer seemed to have an interest in photography and many of the photos show an interest in the art by capturing various angles of scenes.

A nice collection following an African-American family in the 1940s.

Item #416433