Emory University has acquired a rare collection of photographs from photo collector Robert Langmuir of Philadelphia. The collection depicts the life of African-Americans during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Emory University’s Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library (MARBL) has acquired more than 10,000 photos ranging from the late 1840’s to the 1970’s.
“They include nearly every format, from daguerreotypes to snapshots, and cover a wide range of subject matter. A number of the photos were taken by African American photographers, a topic in itself.”
The precious set of photos not only highlights the everyday lives of African Americans, but also snapped shots of well-known figures such as Marcus Garvey and blues musician Howlin’ Wolf. “Scholars from many disciplines will find this collection to be a treasure trove for peering behind the veil and seeing the inner worlds of life in America,” says Lewis. “I am proud that we can add this collection to our library.”
Curator Randall K. Burkett of MARBL’s African American Collections says the photographs “complements virtually every other collection we have, whether it’s in music, art, literature, dance, business, civil rights – any aspect of late 19th and 20th century American culture.”
To learn more about the collection and this article, click here.
Check out the new trailer for “Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People” USA Projects.
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