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Claude A. Barnett collection of visual materials

Descriptive Summary

Title
Claude A. Barnett collection of visual materials
Dates
1890-1969,
Predominant Dates
bulk 1920-1969
Identifier
1980.0213
Creator
Barnett, Claude,1889-1967, Associated Negro Press
Size
1879 photographic prints :
b&w ;
11 x 14 in. or smaller.
Size
5 albums (containing 500 photographic prints) ;
8 x 10 in.
Size
ca. 75 photomechanical prints :
b&w ;
47 x 32 cm (23 1/2 x 16 in.) or smaller.
Size
14 photomechanical prints :
broadside, few col. ;
11 x 14 in. or smaller.
Size
7 photomechanical prints :
envelope, col. ;
5 x 7 in. or smaller.
Size
14 negatives :
cellulose nitrate ;
4 x 5 in. or smaller.
Size
5 negatives :
b&w ;
4 x 5 in. or smaller.
Size
4 negatives :
col. ;
4 x 5 in. or smaller.
Size
1 folder of non-graphic material.
Size
17 broadsides ;
large format.
Language
Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Scope and Content

Primarily photoprints of Afro-Americans collected during Barnett's career as founder and director of the Chicago-based Associated Negro Press (1919-1964), some images photographed by Gordon Parks. Includes Black events and significant personalities in diverse fields supplied to the ANP for distribution to Black newspapers, 1920s-1960s; his topical interests (higher education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, entertainment, medicine, politics, civil rights, sports, armed forces, and relations with various African nations and Haiti), 1910-1960s; a few family snapshots of Mr. and Mrs. Claude A. Barnett (Etta Moten, a singer and actress), and several broadsides mostly from the 1930s concerning Chicago political topics, performances of Etta Moten, calls to rally about the Ku Klux Klan, trade unions, post-war equal employment, and self-help for Blacks.

Large broadsides are primarily items relating to African Americans and associated events in Chicago and the United States. Events include the American Negro Exposition (1940 : Chicago, Ill.), the death of Edgar Brown (1954), the NAACP Annual Freedom Fund dinner (1959 : Chicago, Ill.), and concerts by singer Etta Moten (Mrs. Claude A.) Barnett (ca. 1949-1959). Includes 2 U.S. government posters from World War II showing African Americans. One advertisement for war bonds shows a baby, and the other honors Dorie Miller for action at Pearl Harbor in 1942. Other advertising material relates to the National Negro Insurance Association (ca. 1930) and films about African American progress. Also includes a few pieces of political ephemera calling for the re-election of President Hoover (1932), and calling for discrimination in voting in Texas elections (ca. 1940-1949). One item relates to the Illinois Civil Rights Law (ca. 1948).

Conditions for Access

Nitrate negatives restricted from access, see reference copies instead. Advance appointment required to view color material in cold storage or negatives in cool storage; please email research@chicagohistory.org.

Conditions Governing Use

Many items copyrighted.

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.

Custodial History

Gift of Etta Moten Barnett, 1977 (1980.0213).

Processing Information

Digitized 2016-2018. Nitrate negatives digitized with assistance from a grant by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Arrangement

Organization: By topic.

Other Descriptive Data

Most of collection's images are photoprints.

Other Descriptive Data

Forms part of the Russell L. Lewis, Jr. Nitrate Photography Collection.

Related Material

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Claude A. Barnett papers, the Etta Moten Barnett papers, and microfilm of major portions of the Claude A. Barnett papers by University Publications of America (made in 1985).

Alternate Format Available

Some photoprints also available as copy negatives in Rights & Reproductions Office: ICHi no. 15096, 15097, 15102, 15104-08, 16311, 16313, 16315, 16317, 16350-52, 16318, 16320, 16321, 16323, 16331-16333, 16349, 16350, 18375, 18377-18381, 19530-19536, 79046 (photographed by Gordon Parks).

Alternate Format Available

Nitrate reference copies available online.

Descriptive inventory with container list available (80-213).

Indexed Terms