Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Evans Studio photographs

Abstract

The Evans Studio photographs (circa 1930s-1940s; 0.48 cubic feet; 4 boxes) comprise photographic portraits and photographic postcards that document Black children and adults in Louisville, Kentucky in the early twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Evans Studio photographs
Date
circa 1930s-1940s (inclusive)
Creator
Evans, Arthur P., Jr., 1916-1982
Extent
0.48 Cubic Feet
Subjects
African Americans.
Postcards -- 20th century.
Portraits.
African Americans -- Kentucky -- Louisville
Photography -- Kentucky.
African American photographers.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Ida Lucille Mangum
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.1086: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Evans Studio photographs, circa 1930s-1940s, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
The Evans Studio was a photography studio in Louisville during the early twentieth century. It was located in the Black business district at 819 West Chestnut Street. Arthur P. Evans and Arthur P. Evans Jr. (1916-1982), father and son, were the studio photographers. Notable photographer, Charles "Bud" Ford Dorsey Jr. (born 1941), worked at the Evans Studio in exchange for photographic and film development lessons.
American Letters collector Wade Hall (1934-2015) was a native of Union Springs, Alabama. Starting in 1962, he lived in Louisville, where he taught English and chaired the English and Humanities/Arts programs at Kentucky Southern College and Bellarmine University. He also taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida. He held degrees from Troy State University (B.S.), the University of Alabama (M.A.), and the University of Illinois (Ph.D.). He served for two years in the U.S. Army in the mid-fifties. Dr. Hall was the author of books, monographs, articles, plays, and reviews relating to Kentucky, Alabama, and Southern history and literature. His most recent books include A Visit with Harlan Hubbard; High Upon a Hill: A History of Bellarmine College; A Song in Native Pastures: Randy Atcher's Life in Country Music; and Waters of Life from Conecuh Ridge.
Scope and Content
The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Evans Studio photographs (circa 1930s-1940s; 0.48 cubic feet; 4 boxes) comprise photographic portraits and photographic postcards that document Black children and adults in Louisville, Kentucky in the early twentieth century. The photographs are primarily portraits of a single individual poised in the studio. A small portion of the collection contains photographs at weddings, churches, and in family homes. Also included are two photographs of three Asian children. One of the Asian children photos has Asian letter emboss.
The Evans Studio photographs collection is part of the Wade Hall Collection of American letters, which includes correspondence and diaries from all over North America covering the time period of the Civil to Korean Wars. The materials were collected by Wade Hall and document everyday men and women.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Contents of the Collection

Photographic portraits, circa 1930s-1940s

Scope and Contents

The Photographic portraits series contains images of Black children and adults. Most of the photos feature only one person. Some photographs portray two persons or groups of people.

Unidentified Black children, circa 1930s-1940s

  • Box 1, item 1-26
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Unidentified Asian children, circa 1930s-1940s

  • Box 1, item 27-28
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Unidentified Black people, circa 1930s-1940s

  • Box 1, item 29-42
  • Box 3, item 17-22
  • Box 4, item 1-17
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Photographic postcards, circa 1930s-1940s

Scope and Contents

The Photographic postcards series, undated, contains portrait images of Black children and persons. Photographic postcards, also known as real photo postcard (RPPC), is a continuous-tone photographic image printed on postcard stock.

Unidentified Black children, circa 1930s-1940s

  • Box 1, item 43-90
  • Box 2, item 1-29
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Unidentified Black dancers, circa 1930s-1940s

  • Box 2, item 30-35
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Unidentified Black graduates, circa 1930s-1940s

  • Box 2, item 36-65
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Unidentified Black people, circa 1930s-1940s

  • Box 2, item 66-80
  • Box 3, item 1-16
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.

UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

Requests

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Submit a request for SCRC materials.




You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.