Princeton University Library’s Graphic Arts Collection recently acquired a collection of African American Portraits, 1860s-1880s. These early photographs of men, women, and children were developed using the tintype process patented in the United States by Hamilton Smith in 1856. Nearly all the names of the sitters are unknown with the exception of one portrait of “African–American child, Sally Rice.” Names of photographers are unknown.
The Graphic Arts Collection includes artists' and private press books, as well as materials for the study of paper and papermaking, printing, calligraphy, printmaking, fine binding, typography, and book design. Of special interest are the Sinclair Hamilton Collection of American Illustrated Books; 18th- and 19th-century British artists and illustrators (particularly George and Robert Cruikshank, Thomas Rowlandson, and William Hogarth), and the Charles Rahn Fry Pochoir Collection.
The collection includes more than 22,000 examples of fine letterpress printing, bookbinding, papermaking, modern calligraphy, and artists' books, as well as reference works on the history of the book and printing. Among the primary source materials are over 20,000 drawings, prints, paintings, and photographs related to the history of book illustration, vintage printing presses and type, approximately 350 blocks and plates for printmaking, and 100 linear feet of printed ephemera such as bookplates, trade cards, and postcards.
Source: http://www.princeton.edu/rbsc/department/graphicarts/
Ulli Steltzer Photographs of African Americans
Contains black-and-white photographs of African Americans in rural and urban areas. The photographs appear to be mid-20th century, and are mounted on board. Proper titles for the photographs were not available; the titles below are descriptive.
Location: Graphic Arts
Call number: GC 116
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Bill Robinson, April 18, 1941, photograph.
GC 123 Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection
Location: C-floor vault, GC 123
Record no. 4543
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Bricktop: Paris, June 22, 1934, photograph.
GC 123 Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection
Location: C-floor vault, GC 123
Record no. 4466
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Cab Calloway, Jan. 12, 1933
GC 123 Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection
Location: C-floor vault, GC 123
Record no. 4439
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Earle Jones in Langston Hughes's play, Don't you want to be free?
GC 123 Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection
Location: C-floor vault, GC 123
Record no. 4454
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Ethel Waters in Manbals Daughter, Feb. 19, 1939, photograph.
GC 123 Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection
Location: C-floor vault, GC 123
Record no. 4478
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Katherine Durham, May 10, 1940, photograph.
GC 123 Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection
Location: C-floor vault, GC 123
Record no. 4533
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Langston Hughes photograph.
Location: Special Collections, Sylvia Beach Collection, Box 278
Notes: Dedication, verso: 'To Sylvia Beach Sincerely Langston Hughes Paris, July 37.'
Physical description: Good condition. Soiled and turning brittle. Filed with enlarged copy print. Signed with blind stamp: 'Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.'
Record no. 7072
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Marian Anderson, Ave Maria, July 17, 1947, photograph.
GC 123 Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection
Location: C-floor vault, GC 123
Record no. 4436
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Pearl Bailey: St. Louis Woman, July 5, 1946
GC 123 Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection
Location: C-floor vault, GC 123
Record no. 4438
Vechten, Carl Van, 1880-1964
Richard Wright, photograph.
Location: Special Collections, Sylvia Beach Collection, Box 278
Record no. 7071
For assistance contact the Department of Special Collections, Graphic Arts Collection
Julie Mellby, Graphic Arts Librarian
609-258-3197
