1930s African American Family Photo Album from Missouri

African-American family photo album from the 1930s in Mt. Hope, Missouri, a rural town outside of St. Louis. This album offers an intimate glimpse into the life of an African American family, the Berrys, during the early 20th century, containing approximately 66 photographs mounted on its pages. 7" x 11" bound album with images predominantly measuring 3.5" x 2.5" that capture various moments of family gatherings, individual portraits, and daily activities. Period captions accompany most of the photographs.

Many photos depict the young Helen Berry (truncated) with captions, e.g. "Girls like to play ball" showing her wielding a baseball bat, "Just now looking fine" posing in front of a courtyard steps, "Helen at her friend house Mable Washington" showing Berry sitting on the hood of a 1930s car, waving at the camera. Enclosed within the album are two clipped obituaries for Eugene Berry, an African American man and Helen's husband who passed away at the age of 22 in Mount Hope, Missouri. The obituaries list his wife, Helen Berry, among the survivors. Throughout the album, several photographs feature a young woman, possibly Helen Berry, based on the captions. Eugene Berry also appears in multiple images, often alongside family and friends, providing a poignant visual narrative of their shared experiences. A small photo shows a middle aged Black man in a taxi hat.​ Notably, approximately 11 photographs near the back of the album depict a white family identified as the Sanders, along with their residence. An inscription reads, "I work for Sanders back in 30," indicating that the album's owner was employed as a caretaker for the Sanders children during the 1930s. Snapshots of the young Sanders children, accompanied by affectionate captions, reflect the close bonds formed between the caretaker and the family. This aspect of the album offers insight into the experiences of African American domestic workers during the Great Depression, a period when many Black women were employed in domestic service roles. In the 1930s, a significant percentage of Black women worked in domestic and personal service, often striving to support their families amidst economic hardships. ​

The album's binding shows signs of wear consistent with age, with some pages exhibiting minor detachment. The photographs remain largely well-preserved, though some display slight fading and discoloration. Captions, where present, can be faint.​ Very good condition overall. This collection serves as a valuable artifact, providing a window into the personal and professional life of an African American woman and her family during the early 20th century. (Inventory #: 21510)