Research Help

Contents

Collection Access

BMRC.CHM.png
1601 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614
Access to archives and manuscripts at the Research Center.

Atkinson family collection of visual materials

Descriptive Summary

Title
Atkinson family collection of visual materials
Dates
ca 1860-1929
Identifier
1990.0366
Size
4 photographic prints :
b&w ;
3 1/2 x 5 3/4 in. or smaller.
Size
8 photographs :
cabinet card photograph ;
4 1/2 x 6 in.
Size
4 photographs :
carte de visite photograph ;
2 1/2 x 4 in.
Size
7 photomechanical prints :
b&w ;
5 1/4 x 6 in. or smaller.
Size
4 photographs :
tintype ;
6 1/2 x 8 in. or smaller.
Size
1 box of non-graphic material.
Language
Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Conditions for Access

To examine the tintypes, it is necessary to make an advance appointment by email to Research@chicagohistory.org or by U.S. mail to the Research Center. Tintypes may be handled only by conservation staff of Chicago History Museum.

Conditions Governing Use

Credit photographer(s).

Preferred Citation

A common citation for archives is as follows: Item, Folder number and/or title, Box number, Collection title, ID number, Repository name, location.

Acquisition Information

Accession information not specified.

Custodial History

Gift of Michelle Madison, 1990 (1990.0366).

Scope and Content

Photographs and prints related to Isaac and Emma Atkinson and their descendants, one of the first African-American families to settle in Chicago. Isaac was the son of Richard Atkinson, who emigrated from Scotland to the United States, and Cecilia, a full-blooded Cherokee. Isaac married Emma Jane, who was half African American and half Cherokee, and they came to Chicago in 1847. An article about the Atkinson family and this collection, entitled "Family Album: A Personal History of Black Chicago, 1847-1992," appeared in the Chicago Tribune Magazine, February 23, 1992.

Related Material

Related material at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, includes the Franklyn Atkinson Henderson collection of photographs of African American old settlers of Chicago (1990.0070) and the Chicago Old Settlers Social Club record books.

Alternate Format Available

Also available as copy negatives: ICHi 21938-21964.

Container list available.

Indexed Terms