photographs

by Randy Gue, Curator of Modern Political and Historical Collections, MARBL

Let me ask you a question: What did you do on your last vacation? Did you journey to Florida and sit on the beach? Did you play a round or two of golf or take in a baseball game while you were there?

by Ryan Taylor, Project Archivist, MARBL

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

The photographs of SCLC provide a unique window into the wide array of leaders, entertainers, politicians, and personalities that have aided or interacted with SCLC and its members throughout the lifetime of the organization. Featured below are some candid moments captured on film by members of SCLC staff. 

Above left: Muhammad Ali with two of his daughters, undated. Above right: Harry Belafonte, undated.

By Ryan Taylor, Project Archivist, MARBL and Michael R. Hall, Graduate Processing Assistant, MARBL

"Working for Freedom: Documenting Civil Rights Organizations" is a collaborative project between Emory University's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, The Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, and The Robert W. Woodruff Library of Atlanta University Center to uncover and make available previously hidden collections documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and New Orleans. The project is administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Each organization regularly contributes blog posts about their progress.

The photographs of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference are a rich and comprehensive look into the history of the civil rights struggle in America and a view into one of the movement’s most influential organizations. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the photographs documenting the SCLC’s National Conventions, which span over forty years and capture the spirit of those working within SCLC and the organization’s allies. Below are some selected images which highlight the sweeping breadth of the SCLC National Convention photographs.

Above left: Television producer Fred Sullivan receives award for his work in producing the TV movie "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" at the 17th National Convention, 1974. Above right: Joseph Lowery, Fred Taylor, Rosa Parks, and Walter E. Fauntroy unveil the Rosa Parks Award at the 23rd National Convention, 1980. Click to view full size images.