Unidentified photograph collection
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Unidentified photograph collection
- Identifier
- BMRC.BRONZEVILLE.UPC
- Repository
- Bronzeville / Black Chicagoan Historical Society
- Language
- English
- Size
- 2.67 Linear feet
- Dates
- circa 1880-1999
- Abstract
- The Unidentified photograph collection of the Bronzeville / Black Chicagoan Historical Society includes photographs found throughout the Bronzeville neighborhood, at resale-shops, abandoned homes, or were discarded throughout the community.
Acknowledgements and Access
This collection was part of the CLIR funded BMRC “Color Curtain Processing Project,” 2011-2013. For current information about the collection and its status, please contact the Bronzeville Historical Society.
Condition note
All of the photographs in the collection were removed from original frames upon being processed, specifically to address any preservation concerns.
Arrangement note
The Unidentifed photograph collection is arranged into 7 series: 1. Unidentified photographs found in 2002, undated. 2. Unidentified photographs found in 2003, circa 1950-1980. 3. Unidentified photographs found in 2009, circa 1880-1999. 4. Photographs from 11431 S. Forestville, Chicago, Illinois, 60628, found in 2010, circa 1880-1999. 5. Oversized photographs from Bronzeville reseale shop found in 2010, 1953, 1996. 6. Oversized photographs from 3919 S. Calumet Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60653, found in 2010, circa 1940-1979, undated. 7. Unidentified photographs found in 2013, circa 1960-1999. The photographs are organized by the year or locations that Sherry Williams found the items. Related photographs are kept together and a note will be provided in the title description. Estimated date ranges for the photographs are provided.
Scope and Content
The Unidentified photograph collection includes photographs mostly consisting of families believed to live in the Bronzeville community in Chicago from the late 19th century to the late 20th century. Aside from portraiture, the photographs show family events, weddings, graduations, and other celebrations. Related photographs are kept together and are noted.
Processing Information note
Processed by CLIR funded Black Metropolis Research Consortium “Color Curtain Processing Project.” Processor: Angelique Schuler.
Provenance
The Unidentified Photograph Collection was compiled by Sherry Williams, President of the Bronzeville / Black Chicagoan Historical Society. The orphaned photographs were found throughout the Bronzeville neighborhood, at resale-shops, or in abandoned homes. Notes are given where any original provenance or inscriptions could be found on the backs of photographs.
Restrictions
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation note
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Unidentified photograph collection, [Box #, Folder #], Bronzeville / Black Chicagoan Historical Society, Chicago, Illinois
Indexed Terms
- Corelli, Florence
- Ivory, Carmelieta
- Napoli, Richard M.
- Scarber, Sam
- Tuskegee Institute.
- Bronzeville (Chicago, Ill.)
- Bronzeville (Chicago, Ill.)--Social life and customs
- Photograph collections--Illinois--Chicago--Exhibitions
- Photograph collections
- Photographs as information resources
- Photographs
Inventory
In 2002, Sherry Williams located this discarded photograph in the Bronzeville community. It is a black and white image with the first names of individuals inked on the front.
- Title
- Photograph with first names listed,
- Dates
- undated
In 2003, Sherry Williams located these discarded photographs in the Bronzeville community. The only identified person is the baby picture with the name ‘Cindy’ written on the back. No other information is known about whom or when the images were taken but we estimate that the pictures were probably taken between 1950-1980.
- Title
- Related family photographs (one photo inscribed with the first name 'Cindy') (13),
- Dates
- circa 1960-1980
- Title
- Unidentified portrait photograph,
- Dates
- circa 1960-1969
- Title
- Related unidentified photographs (4),
- Dates
- circa 1950-1960
In 2009, this group of photographs was found orphaned in the Bronzeville community. Several of the photographs were dated on the back, while others have circa dates that estimate the range of when they were taken. Upon removing some of these photographs from the original frames were other photos layered underneath.
- Title
- Unrelated and unidentified family photographs, some dates and first names inscribed (5),
- Dates
- circa 1980-1999
- Title
- Unrelated and unidentified graduation and senior photographs (7),
- Dates
- circa 1980-1999
- Title
- Unidentified wedding photograph,
- Dates
- circa 1990-1999
- Title
- Unrelated and unidentified prom photographs (4),
- Dates
- circa 1980-2001
- Title
- Unidentified family photograph mounted over one unidentified woman in a photograph,
- Dates
- circa 1950-1959, circa 1980-1989
- Title
- Unidentified anniversary photograph,
- Dates
- 2006
- Title
- Small unidentified military photograph,
- Dates
- circa 1990-1999
- Title
- Military photograph mounted over a photograph of two children and related larger military photograph,
- Dates
- circa 1960-1999
- Title
- Related and unidentified photographs (6),
- Dates
- circa 1970-1979
- Title
- Unidentified photograph of four men,
- Dates
- circa 1970-1979
- Title
- Unidentified graduation photograph mounted over an unidentified woman,
- Dates
- 1967, circa 1950-1959
- Title
- Six unidentified small photographs mounted over a larger photograph,
- Dates
- circa 1960-1969
- Title
- Small photograph identified as Sam Scarber,
- Dates
- 1932 July 7
- Title
- Oversized unrelated photographs (2),
- Dates
- 1979; circa 1970-1979
- Title
- Oversized portrait photographs of Carmelieta Ivory and two unidentified people (3),
- Dates
- circa 1970-1979
- Title
- Unidentified individual portrait style photographs (6),
- Dates
- circa 1880-1920
Sherry Williams found this group of photographs at 11431 S. Forestville, Chicago, IL 60628, in 2010. It appears that all of these images are related extended family photographs. These photographs are maintained in the original groupings when brought to the Bronzeville Historical Society.
- Title
- Unidentified related photographs (5),
- Dates
- circa 1990-1999
- Title
- Florence Corelli and 5 unidentified first communion photographs,
- Dates
- circa 1900-1920
- Title
- Richard M. Napoli and two unidentified photographs,
- Dates
- 1945, circa 1920-1945
- Title
- Unidentified family A photographs (6),
- Dates
- circa 1880-1920
- Title
- Unidentified family B photographs (6),
- Dates
- circa 1880-1920
- Title
- Unidentified graduation photograph,
- Dates
- 1949
- Title
- Unidentified wedding photographs (2),
- Dates
- undated; circa 1950
In 2010, Sherry Williams purchased these two photographs from a resale shop in Bronzeville.
- Title
- Oversized: Tuskegee General Alumni Association,
- Dates
- 1953
- Title
- Painting titled "Dexter,"
- Dates
- 1996
Sherry Williams found this group of photographs at 3919 S. Calumet Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60653 after the former owners moved. The 216 photographs are related to one family and are labeled with names.
- Title
- Photo Album with recipes,
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- Photo Album, 216 related and identified photographs,
- Dates
- circa 1940-1979
Sherry Williams, found these photographs in 2013, orphaned in the Bronzeville community. The photographs show family events, weddings, graduations, and other celebrations.
- Title
- Unidentified photographs, 1 of 4,
- Dates
- circa 1980-1999
- Title
- Unidentified photographs, 2 of 4,
- Dates
- circa 1980-1999
- Title
- Unidentified photographs, 3 of 4,
- Dates
- circa 1980-1999
- Title
- Unidentified photographs, 4 of 4,
- Dates
- circa 1980-1999
- Title
- Photograph identified as the ‘Blue Dragon’s Tea,’
- Dates
- 1944
- Title
- Small unidentified photographs (55)
- Dates
- circa 1960-1989
- Title
- Medium unidentified photographs (4)
- Dates
- circa 1960-1989