1940s Harlem & New York African American Family Life Photo Album

[African American] [Photography] African American family from New York, album with 200 images between 1940s-1970s in Harlem and Upstate New York, with most dating from the 1940s. Black and white silver gelatin photographs and some later in color. This vast collection captures the day to day lives of a middle class Black family living in Harlem and Upstate New York during the mid 20th century. The album captures glimpses of their homes, cars, jobs, holidays and special occasions, new additions to the family, the growth of children, their travels, and their love for each other. Many photos were taken prior to the Civil Rights Movement while Jim Crow laws (truncated) of the South were still very much alive. As more jobs became in demand following the burgeoning of WWII, it was 1941 when Black civilians demanded equality in the workforce. This caused President Roosevelt to establish the Committee on Fair Employment Practices. This laid a foundation for Black families escaping the South to build an economic and familial structure. Harlem and other parts of New York became epicenters for Black Americans to make their own economy and community. We know their location due to one image showing a New York license plate, and a flyer from "The Baby Grand", which was an active and well known Harlem night club that opened in 1953. The first few images show a well dressed young couple at dinner, two young men and a child with one of the men in military dress, and a well dressed older man in a fedora, aviator sunglasses, and a three piece suit posed against a fence with a cigar in hand. A large scale professional photograph shows five men in suits with a printed caption "The Spiritualairs Quartet". These photographs imply the family were well to do and of the Christian faith. This narrative continues as many of the next pages show members of the family posed on their land in front of their homes, some of just their homes or cars and pet family members. One photograph shows two young men in three piece suits, one wearing a fedora, smiling and laughing as they proudly lean on their cars. In later photos, a few of the couples from earlier images are shown with their first born babies and pictures continue to show them aging. One couple photographs shows one of the teenage girls in a dress for a school dance, and others holding books and binders as though they are caught by the camera before going to school. One page shows six images of a Japanese woman in the 1940s, it is not stated what her relation is to the family, perhaps she is someone one of the male soldiers knew during WWII. A few other photos show the older couples and ladies in ball gowns and evening dresses. Almost everyone in each photograph is expressing a form of joy and engaging in light-hearted activities. This album is a shining example of a family that was able to herald their accomplishments and experiences during a harrowing, yet radically progressive time for Black Americans. Pages are detached from covers but held together by the spine, a few photos are loose. Photo quality and page condition is crisp. Overall very good condition. (Inventory #: 20181)