Scope and arrangement
The collection depicts aspects of the personal and professional life of author and activist James Baldwin, mainly from 1961 to 1987, as well as views of activities related to the production of the documentary film James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket from 1988-1989. Images of Baldwin were compiled in association with the film.
The James Baldwin photographs include individual portraits of Baldwin, some of which were used for publicity purposes, as well as group portraits showing Baldwin with family members, friends and colleagues at home or social gatherings. The grouping also contains views of Baldwin at meetings, speeches and lectures, and ceremonies, socializing, engaged in civil rights activities, and living abroad. Also present are photographs from Baldwin's lifetime relating to his life and career, including candid shots and views of his family and friends; and views of theatrical productions of his plays.
Of note are views of Baldwin when he returned to the United States to become involved in the Civil Rights movement, visiting Harlem and traveling through the American South (1963); candid shots and views of Baldwin living in Istanbul, Turkey (1965-1966) and Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France (1970-1980s); views of Baldwin attending a gathering of intellectuals at Lake Issuk-Kul, in Soviet-era Kyrgyzstan (1986); and Baldwin at a reading and rehearsal for his play Blues for Mister Charlie with director Burgess Meredith and cast member Diana Sands (1964).
Many of the photographs depicting Baldwin are credited to Sedat Pakay and Steve Schapiro. Other photographers include Bob Adelman, Irma McClaurin Allen, Gordon Baer, Jerry Bauer, Pierre Boulat, Engin Cezzar, Cinquini, Yves Coatsilou, Jacques Gomot, Pat Hartley, Matt Herron, Martha Holmes, Ester Jackson, Jill Krementz, Hubert Le Campion, Carl Mydans, Max Petrus, Jacques Robert, Ted Russell, Tom Sandler, Leslie Schenck, P. Shiras, Carl Van Vechten, Mottke Weissman, and Mel Wright.
The photographs related to the film The Price of the Ticket(1988-1989) depict the participants and filming of the documentary, consisting of candid shots of director/producer Karen Thorsen and co-producer William Miles; candid shots of Thorsen and Miles with members of the film crew and Baldwin's friends and associates; candid shots of Baldwin's friends, associates, and his brother David; views of film interviews; and views of film crews shooting on location, mainly in Turkey and France. Along with David Baldwin, interviewees depicted include Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Engin Cezzar, Bernard Hassell, Bobby Short, and William Styron.
Also included in a miscellaneous grouping are a series of photographic and photomechanical collages of Baldwin, created by artist Claire Burch, that are likely associated with the film's production (1988).
The James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket collection is arranged in three series: