1940s-1970s Identified African American Life Family Photo Album

Identified African American Family

Photograph

[African American] [Photography] 22 large scale black and white silver gelatin photographs of an African American family in the 1940s. Bright green patterned cloth album covers, 11.5" x 12.5". Photographs belong to the Curl family and opens with a large portrait of Mrs. Christina Curl, "My beloved mother". It is unidentified which family member this album belonged to but a few different persons are captioned as "me" which indicates that the family sent various photographs to the original owner from various parts of the United States such as Chicago and Los Angeles. Several photographs show groups of Black Americans in formal wear attending clubs, dinners, and dances. A man identified as the senders brother is shown in two formal group photos, one with his sister Gladys and her friends, and another at "The Prairie View Dec. 23, 1954 Dance." A large professional portrait shows a stylish African American woman with the inscription "With All My Love to a Sweet Sister-in-Law, 1970." Two images show two different men in brand new cars, one with a caption en verso "Hound-Day getting ready to cruise!" Three photographs show to be in Los Angeles from a newly wed couple with images of the wife smiling and leaning on a palm tree, and in front of two California homes, one dated 1948. Another two photographs of a different woman are shown, one in front of the same house with caption en verso "Miss Los Angeles 1954. A photograph of the first woman, named Gale, is shown with her husband Earl at "New Club DeLisa -- Chicago" 1946. Opened in 1933, the club was the most prominent African American venue of the day until 1958. Happy wedding photos of a woman named Carrie and her husband are shown with a Caucasian priest. A photo of two Black men in suits are shown pushing a child in a stroller and some other children play near by in a suburban neighborhood. The woman Gale is shown in multiple photographs over the span of a few decades with different men, indicating that this album may have belonged to her. The last photograph is of Gale and a young Black man dressed in 1950s formal wear in a well decorated mid-century home, two later professional portraits show the couple together, having aged, indicating that this was the man she ended up marrying. This album is a shining example of a family that was able to herald their accomplishments and experiences during a harrowing, yet radically progressive time for Black Americans. Photos are loosely placed under plastic sheets and are clean and crisp. Overall very good condition.

Item #20310

Price: $285.00