| Dates: | Circa 1890-1997 |
| Size: | 2.5 linear feet |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, 9525 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois 60628 |
|
Collection Number: |
2000/09 |
| Provenance: | Donated by Michael St. James in September 2000 |
| Access: | No restrictions |
| Citation: |
When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Michael St. James Photograph Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature |
| Processed by: | Elizabeth Loch, April 2021 |
Biographical Note
Photographer Michael St. James collected early images produced by some of Chicago’s pioneering African American photographers.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of 61 photographs and 3 documents. The bulk of materials in this collection are studio portraits of African Americans between circa 1890-1920, exact dates are unknown. The photographer’s studio is noted with the address if that information appears on the documents. The collection also contains graduation class photographs from Chicago schools.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series by format. Series 1: Manuscripts, 1943-1944 and Series 2: Photographs, circa 1890-1997 are each organized alphabetically by title.
Related Materials
Related materials at the Chicago Public Library include:
Container List
Series 1: Manuscripts, 1943-1944
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Englewood High School graduation program and song, 1944 June 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Florine Howard’s Englewood High School grade report, 1942-1943 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Royal Arrows graduation diploma dance at Parkway Ballroom advertisement, 1943 |
Series 2: Photographs, circa 1890-1997
| Box 2 | Photo 001 | Baby on a couch, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 002 | Football game [high school?], undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 003 | Graduation photo of a young African American man, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 004 | Herbert Spencer Math and Science Academy class of 1998, 1998 |
| Box 2 | Photo 005 | Machine worker, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 006 | Park Manor School graduates, group “A,” Flanders Foto, 1967 June |
| Box 2 | Photo 007 | Park Manor School graduates, group “B,” Flanders Foto, 1964 June |
| Box 2 | Photo 008 | Park Manor School graduates, group “D,” Flanders Foto, 1967 June |
| Box 2 | Photo 009 | Park Manor School graduates, group “G,” Flanders Foto, 1964 June |
| Box 2 | Photo 010 | Preaching notice for Reverend E. W. Ward, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 011 | School graduation, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 012 | Sherwood School graduating class, Worthington Studio, 1930 June |
| Box 2 | Photo 013 | Soldier standing outside, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 014 | Studio portrait of an African American baby, C. H. Hersugh, 1325 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 015 | Studio portrait of an African American baby in a Christening gown, L. W. Felt Studio, 215 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1910 |
| Box 2 | Photo 016 | Studio portrait of an African American baby in a Christening gown, Perry Studio, corner of Clark and Huron Streets, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 017 | Studio portrait of an African American baby in a Christening gown on pillows, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 018 | Studio portrait of an African American baby in a Christening gown, R. A. Ham Studio, 86 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1900 |
| Box 2 | Photo 019 | Studio portrait of an African American baby in a Christening gown [“Tommy at 10 months old”], Hartley’s, 309 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 020 | Studio portrait of an African American baby in a Christening gown, W.C. Huszagh, 1816 Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1920 |
| Box 2 | Photo 021 | Studio portrait of an African American baby, Root Studio, 243 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 022 | Studio portrait of an African American boy and girl sitting, Patton’s Studio, 355 E. 47th Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 023 | Studio portrait of an African American boy, Frank B. Moore Ltd., 108 Bordnne, North Carolina and 1317 Tulane, Louisiana, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 024 | Studio portrait of an African American family, Imrie, 59 Monroe Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 025 | Studio portrait of an African American female baby, Brown Studio, 194 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1910 |
| Box 2 | Photo 026 | Studio portrait of an African American female in her early 20s, Huszagh, 163 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1920 |
| Box 2 | Photo 027 | Studio portrait of an African American female middle-aged, Huszagh, 163 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1910 |
| Box 2 | Photo 028 | Studio portrait of an African American girl, Adams, 40 ½ Whitehall Street, Atlanta, Georgia, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 029 | Studio portrait of an African American girl [“Aunt Annie Bland”], J. H. Reynolds, La Grange, Illinois, undated |
| Box 2 | Photo 030 | Studio portrait of an African American girl, Gibson Studios/Gibson, Sykes and Fowler, 32 S. Wabash, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1920 |
| Box 3 | Photo 031 | Studio portrait of an African American girl sitting and boy standing, Patton’s Studio, 355 E. 47th Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 032 | Studio portrait of an African American male baby, Bastiani Studio, 410 W. Division Street, Chicago, Illinois, circa 920 |
| Box 3 | Photo 033 | Studio portrait of an African American male, Hartley’s Portraits, 309 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1910 |
| Box 3 | Photo 034 | Studio portrait of an African American man at graduation, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 035 | Studio portrait of an African American man, D. P. Raper, 113 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 036 | Studio portrait of an African American man, H. A. Steel, Jackson, Michigan, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 037 | Studio portrait of an African American man, Hawkins in Caldwell’s Building, Washington, Pennsylvania, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 038 | Studio portrait of an African American man [headshot], J. B. Wilson, 389 State Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 039 | Studio portrait of an African American man [headshot], W. J. Root Studio, 243 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1890 |
| Box 3 | Photo 040 | Studio portrait of an African American man in uniform, Vandyke, 475-483 State Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 041 | Studio portrait of an African American man, J. B. Wilson, 389 State Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 042 | Studio portrait of an African American man sitting, E. M. Atkins Photographers, 859 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 043 | Studio portrait of an African American man sitting, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 044 | Studio portrait of an African American man standing, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 045 | Studio portrait of an African American man standing near stairs, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 046 | Studio portrait of an African American man, Wilson Studio, 389 State Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 047 | Studio portrait of an African American pre-teen boy, Gibson Studios/Gibson, Sykes and Fowler, 32 S. Wabash, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1920 |
| Box 3 | Photo 048 | Studio portrait of an African American widow, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 049 | Studio portrait of an African American woman, Gibson Studios/Gibson, Sykes and Fowler, 32 S. Wabash, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1920 |
| Box 3 | Photo 050 | Studio portrait of an African American woman, Hartley Portraits, 309 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1900 |
| Box 3 | Photo 051 | Studio portrait of an African American woman [headshot], Steele, 106 East Main, Jackson, Michigan, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 052 | Studio portrait of an African American woman, J. M. Lenney, Middletown, Pennsylvania, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 053 | Studio portrait of an African American woman minister, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 054 | Studio portrait of an African American woman, Perry Studio, corner of N. Clark and Huron Streets, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 055 | Studio portrait of an African American woman, Richmond Photo Company, 827 ½ Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 056 | Studio portrait of an African American woman standing, E. M. Atkins Photographers, 859 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 057 | Studio portrait of a young African American man in graduation cap and gown, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 058 | Studio portrait of a young African American man in uniform, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 059 | Studio portrait of Klarissica Collins at 4 months, Olan Mills Photography, 1995 |
| Box 3 | Photo 060 | Studio portrait of S. C. Crutcher [missionary and evangelist], Rochester, New York, undated |
| Box 3 | Photo 061 | Wright School, Room 204 class picture, 1996-1997 |
