Collections in Photographs and Prints Division. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

The Maya Angelou photographs, dating from the 1920s to 2009, document the life and legacy of Maya Angelou (1928-2014), poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, dancer, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. The collection mostly celebrates her literary accomplishments. There are some photographs that date to her childhood in rural Stamps, Arkansas. less

Bernard F. Ashe (1936-2023) was an African American labor lawyer who served as General Counsel to New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), a federation of labor unions, for twenty-five years. Ashe's photographs, dating from the 1930s to 2006, chronicle his attendance at conferences and other formal events with NYSUT and legal organizations, as well as his family and personal life. The collection also holds portraits of Ashe. less

The Association of Black Women in Higher Education (ABWHE) is an organization dedicated to promoting the intellectual growth and educational development of Black women in higher education. The photographs, dated 1986 to 1994, document the conferences held by the ABWHE. less

Dr. June Jackson Christmas was an American psychiatrist and served as New York City's Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services. These photographs document key moments in her professional and personal life from 1941 through 2005. The majority of the material is photographic prints, as well as some negatives, and related ephemera. less

Club Cubano Inter-Americano, Inc. was established in 1945 by Cuban residents in New York City who saw the need for a cultural and social club for Cubans and other Latinos living there. The club started during the 1945 centennial birthday celebration for Cuban revolutionary leader Antonio Maceo. By the following year, the club was fully organized and had a group of elected officials. The club, which is open to all regardless of race, gender, creed, political affiliation or religion, celebrates Cuban culture and history through various programs and events. In 1995, the Bronx-based club celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Club Cubano Inter-Americano Photograph Collection depicts the organization's activities from the mid-1940s to the mid-1970s. Documentation of activities for 1945 (the year of the club's origin) and the late 1970s to the 1990s is limited. The collection consists mainly of formal and candid group portraits, documenting the installation of officers, award presentations, banquets and receptions, coronation balls, musical events and parades. Included are some exterior and interior views of the club's facilities on Prospect Avenue in the Bronx, New York. Also included are publicity photos of Cuban musicians who may have visited or appeared at the club. less

Jewel Plummer Cobb (1924-2017) was a Black scientist, educator, and advocate for Black women entering the scientific field. The collection holds prints, slides, negatives, and scrapbooks that illustrate her professional life, family, and friends. Images date from the 1890s to the 2010s, documenting Cobb's family history, research, educational career, and travel. less

Jayne Cortez (1934-2012) was a poet, performance artist, activist, small press publisher, and teacher. A prominent figure of the Black Arts Movement, Cortez was known for performing her poetry accompanied by jazz music. The photographs in this collection depict Cortez's childhood and family life, aspects of her creative work as a spoken word poet, and some of her academic activities. less

Stanley Crouch (1945-2020) was a Black American music and cultural critic, syndicated columnist, and biographer. Crouch's photographs date from 1928 to 2012 (bulk dates 1940s-2012) and contain prints, negatives, and slides that primarily depict his professional and personal life during the 1990s and 2000s. Also included are photographs of jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker that Crouch used for his book, Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker. less

Marion and Clarissa Cumbo were a Black married couple based in New York City who worked as musicians and arts fundraisers. The collection, dated from the 1890s to the 1980s, contains photographs depicting the Cumbos' music careers, their work with Symphony of the New World and Triad Productions, and their families and friends. less

Geraldine L. Daniels was the first African American woman elected as Assemblywoman in New York's 70th State Assembly District, located in Central Harlem. From 1960 to 1988, she was a delegate to the State and National Democratic Conventions. The Geraldine Daniels District Office photographs, dating from 1964 to 1997, depict mainly her legislative activities as Assemblywoman through prints and negatives. less

The Gordon Davis photographs (1994-2005) consists of color photographs relating to Davis' professional and personal life, most notably the 2005 staging of the art installation "The Gates" in Central Park. The collection also features photographs of Davis with President Barack Obama at the White House, and the postage stamp that was released to commemorate Davis' father, the anthropologist Dr. W. Allison Davis. less

Ossie Davis (1917-2005) and Ruby Dee (1922-2014) were American actors, writers, and activists whose careers spanned the mediums of theater, film, television, radio, and print. The Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee photographs, dating from the 1940s to 2012, chronicle the couple's performing roles, as well as their public life as activists and relationships with colleagues in the arts. less

Alexis De Veaux (born 1948) is a writer, poet, and playwright. Her photographs, which date from 1946 to 2020, reflect her personal life and professional career. The Alexis De Veaux photographs includes studio portraits of De Veaux and others, formal documentation of performances and events, candid snapshots, travel pictures, and images De Veaux used for research purposes. less

Fab 5 Freddy is an African American director, TV host, graffiti artist, and a key personality in the history of hip-hop culture. The Fab 5 Freddy photographs highlight both his professional and personal lives, including images taken behind-the-scenes at musical video shoots and on the set of Yo! MTV Raps, album artwork and photoshoots, as well as candid images of figures within the hip hop world. less

Tom Feelings (1933-2003) was an American children's book illustrator and author, cartoonist, teacher, and activist who sought to educate people of color through his artwork, books, and lectures. The Tom Feelings photographs largely chronicle Feelings' professional projects and formal events he attended during the 1990s and early 2000s. The collection also features many photographs of his mother's family from the 1910s. less

P.J. Gibson was a Black American playwright, poet, writer, and educator closely associated with Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre. The P.J. Gibson photographs (dating from 1971 to 2009) contain her portraits, as well as photographs from productions of her work, speaking engagements, travel, promotional materials, and casting. less

Bill Gunn (1934-1989) was a Black writer, actor, and director. The Bill Gunn photographs collection primarily contains pictures of his family, from the 1880s through 1989, as well as some photos related to his career. Bill Gunn's mother, Louise Gunn, compiled most of the photographs in the collection, which depict her career, friends, family, and community engagement. less

Rosa Guy (1922-2012) was a Trinidadian American award-winning author and an active member of the Harlem community. The Rosa Guy photographs date from the 1920s to 2000s and consist of portraits of Guy and her family and friends, professional events, personal gatherings, and candid pictures from Guy's travels. The collection holds mostly photographic prints, as well as some negatives, slides, ephemera, expired passports, photograph albums, and a scrapbook. less

Gertrude Hadley Jeannette (1914-2018) was a Black actor, playwright, director, and theatre producer. She began writing plays in 1950 and founded the Harlem-based HADLEY Players company in 1979. The collection dates from 1928 to 2018, and depicts her personal life and professional work through prints and negatives. less