Research Catalog

Title

Negro Actors Guild of America photograph collection [graphic].

Author

Negro Actors Guild of America

Publication

[190-]-[198-]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Andrews, Bert
• Bakchy, Boris
• Bruno, Anthony J., 1894-1976
• Clemons, Curt
• Dummett, L. St. Clair
• Korman, Murray
• Kriegsmann, James J.
• Layne, Cecil
• Poole, Paul
• Robinson, Albert
• Rossner, Harry
• Seymour, Maurice
• Smith, M.
• Smith, Merritt
• Tucker, Lorenzo
• Van Der Zee, James, 1886-1983
• Winik, Paul
• Workman, David
• Arsene Studio (New York, N.Y.)
• Bell Studio (New York, N.Y.)
• Bloom (Chicago, Ill.)
• Cameron Studio (New York, N.Y.)
• Campbell's (New York, N.Y.)
• Charles Studio (Oneonta, N.Y.)
• De Camp (New York, N.Y.
• Diaz & Rogers (New York, N.Y.)
• Elcha (New York, N.Y.)
• Fred Hess & Co. (Atlantic City, N.J.)
• Gibson (Chicago, Ill.)
• A. Hansen Studio (New York, N.Y.)
• Hooks Bros. Studio (Memphis, Tenn.)
• Kerr (New York, N.Y.)
• Layne's Studio (New York, N.Y.)
• Lucas & Monroe, Inc. (New York, N.Y.)
• Maurice (New York, N.Y.)
• Mitchell (New York, N.Y.)
• Ottomar Studio (New York, N.Y.)
• Patton Studio (Indianapolis, In.)
• Progress (New York, N.Y.)
• Rice Studio (Columbus, Oh.)
• Smith Studios (Cleveland, Oh.)
• Standard (Philadelphia, Pa.)
• Strand Bookstore
• Swisher (Chicago, Ill.)
• Theatrical Studio (Chicago, Ill.)
• Woodard's Studio (Chicago, Ill.)

Found In

c2tc Negro Actors Guild of America, Inc. Negro Actors Guild of America records, 1904-1982 (CStRLIN)NYPW89-A163

Donor/Sponsor

Schomburg NEH Blacks on Stage: African-American Theater Arts Collections Project.

Alternative Title

• A comedy act.
• Anna Lucasta.
• Calypso carnival.
• Crimson skull.
• Miracle in Harlem.
• The philanderer.
• Skin deep.
• Soldier drill.
• Uncle Tom's cabin.

Subject

• Alice, Mary, 1941-
• Bailey, Pearl
• Baker, Josephine, 1906-1975
• Black, Phil, -1975
• Brown, Lillyn, 1885-1969
• Cato, Minto, 1900-1979
• Chester, Slick, 1900-
• Coles, Honi, 1911-1992
• Cooper, Ralph, 1918-
• Davis, Evelyn
• Davis, Ossie
• Dee, Ruby
• Fetchit, Stepin
• Fletcher, Tom, 1873-1954
• Forsyne, Ida
• Freeman, Ann Gaillard
• Freeman, Bee, 1899-1986
• Freeman, Kenn, 1917-
• Girvan, Virginia
• Godfrey, Lynnie
• Guyse, Sheila
• Hall, Adelaide
• Horne, Lena
• Jackson, Harold
• Jessye, Eva, 1895-1992
• Lebensin, Claire
• Leyba, Claire
• Nabbie, Jimmie
• O'Neal, Frederick, 1905-1992
• Perry, Nettie
• Pinkard, Maceo, 1897-1962
• Razaf, Andy, 1895-1973
• Schiffman, Frank, -1974
• Scott, Eloise Bennett
• Sissle, Noble, 1889-1975
• Tucker, Lorenzo
• Vigal, Al
• Wallace, Emmett Babe, 1909-
• Washington, Fredi, 1903-1994
• Waters, Ethel, 1896-1977
• Whipper, Leigh R. (Leigh Rollin), 1877-1975
• Wilson, Dooley, 1894-1953
• WPA Federal Theatre
• Chautaugua Four (Musical group)
• Good Hearts Welfare Association
• Hot Shots (Dance group)
• Ink Spots (Musical group)
• Kenny and the Casanovas (Musical group)
• King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
• Lunceford Quartette
• Manhattan Temple Drill Team
• Negro Actors Guild of America
• New Amsterdam Musical Association, Inc
• Whitman Sisters (Dance group)
• African American theater > New York (State) > New York
• African American actors
• African American actresses
• African American dancers
• African American entertainers
• African American motion picture actors and actresses
• African American singers
• African American musicians
• African Americans in the performing arts > New York (State) > New York
• African American women entertainers
• Arts, Black > New York (State) > New York
• Dance, Black
• Musical groups
• African American boxers
• Boxers (Sports)
• Stereotyping in advertising

Genre/Form

• Publicity photographs – 1910-1989.
• Portrait photographs – 1910-1989.
• Group portraits – 1910-1989.
• Photomontages – 1910-1989.
• Panoramic photographs – 1940-1959.
• Gelatin silver prints – 1910-1989.
• Dye coupler prints – 1950-1989.
• Gelatin silver film negatives – 1920-1989.
• Halftone photomechanical prints – 1940-1989.
• Inscriptions – 1910-1989.
• Autographs – 1910-1989.

Note

• Title devised by cataloger.
• Some photographs bear handstamp of either photographer, photography studio, news agency, or corporate body on verso; some photographs have photographer's or photography studio's blind stamp on recto; some items have photographer's name signed or printed on verso. Some photographs have typewritten captions attached to verso or recto; others have handwritten captions on verso. Some items have printed captions on recto. Some portraits have actors' resume attached. Some photographs are inscribed or autographed. Some photographs are mounted; a group of items are mounted on scrapbook pages. Some images are cropped; other items are damaged. Some photographs are duplicates.
• Collection includes works by Bert Andrews, James Kriegsmann, M. Smith and others.

Terms of Use (note)

• Restricted: Permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography (note)

• The Negro Actors Guild of America, Inc. (NAG) was incorporated in 1936 in New York City as a welfare and benevolent organization for mainly African-American performers. It was established with the assistance of the Theatre Authority, which encouraged black performers to form the Guild in order to become eligible for funds dispersed by the Theater Authority. Some of the services NAG provided were financial aid to indigent entertainers, visitations on black entertainers and gifts to the sick. The Guild kept statistics and maintained a biographical archive as well as publishing a quarterly journal, "The Negro Actor," from 1938-1940.
• Among the founding members of NAG were Fredi Washington, W. C. Handy, Paul Robeson and Ethel Waters. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was named honorary president at its inception. Noble Sissle was the first elected president, 1937-1957; followed by Leigh Whipper, 1957-1960; Frederick O'Neal, 1960-1964; Charles "Honi" Coles, 1964-ca. 1980; and James Randolph, 1980-1981. In the mid-1970s the Guild received approximately $75,000 from photographer Carl Van Vechten's estate which almost tripled its treasury. The Guild had approximately 875 members when it collapsed in 1982 due to mishandling of funds and factional infighting.

Linking Entry (note)

• Forms part of the Negro Actors Guild of America Records, 1904-1982.

Local note

• Sc MG 259

Call Number

Sc Photo Negro Actors Guild of America Collection

OCLC

NYPG00-F152

Author

Negro Actors Guild of America.

Title

Negro Actors Guild of America photograph collection [graphic].

Imprint

[190-]-[198-]

Description

1829 items (6 lin. ft. 9 boxes)

9 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ; 36 x 28 cm. and smaller.

925 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w, some hand colored ; 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.

207 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w, some hand colored ; 19 x 22 cm. and smaller.

338 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ; 12 x 13 cm. and smaller.

27 photographic prints : col. ; 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.

67 photographic prints : col. ; 19 x 22 cm. and smaller.

105 photographic prints : col. ; 12 x 13 cm. and smaller.

16 dye diffusion transfer prints : col. ; 10 x 11 cm. and smaller.

62 photomechanical prints : halftone, b&w ; 28 x 22 cm. and smaller.

25 negatives : 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.

15 photographic postcard : b&w ; 9 x 14 cm.

15 clippings : halftone, b&w ; 23 x 20 cm. and smaller.

8 panoramic photographs : silver gelatin, b&w ; 42 x 26 cm.

10 miscellaneous items.

Organized into four series: I. NAG organization (193?-198?); II. Personalities (190?-198?); III. Collections and scrapbooks (190?-197?); IV. Production scenes (193?-197?).

Summary

The Negro Actors Guild (NAG) Photograph Collection (190?-198?) constitutes a portion of the organization's archives. The collection documents NAG membership, activities, and facilities, as well as the contributions of African-Americans to various areas of the performing arts. The collection consists of general files maintained on individual performers, stills featuring African-American performers from various motion picture and theatrical productions, and the personal collections and scrapbooks of individual performers. The collection does not depict a number of individuals associated with NAG nor does it document all of the organization's activities. Some photographs are unidentified.

The NAG organization series (193?-198?) includes portraits and candid shots of NAG members, its events and facilities. Group portraits of NAG members include Honi Coles, Bee Freeman, Kenn Freeman, Claire Leyba, Frederick O'Neal, and Noble Sissle, among others. One portrait depicts NAG past presidents Honi Coles, Frederick O'Neal, Noble Sissle and Leigh Whipper. Among the events pictured are panoramic views of NAG's 27th Annual Grand Artists Ball (1964) and NAG's 40th Anniversary Dinner-Dance (1977), as well as a view of a truck advertising NAG's Moonlight Cruise (1955). Also included is a NAG scrapbook containing snapshots of members, events and views of NAG's interior facilities. Individuals depicted include Bee Freeman, Kenn Freeman, Hilloch Greene, "Slim" Thompson, Lorenzo Tucker, and Al Vigal. Photos of NAG facilities include views of photographs and other memorabilia on display.

The Personalities series (190?-198?), which comprises the bulk of the collection, was maintained by NAG on individual performers. The series consists of publicity portraits, some studio portraits, and a few candid shots of actors, singers, dancers, comedians, musicians, circus performers and other entertainers, some of whom may have been members of NAG or probably associated with its members. The files also contain personal photograph collections and scrapbooks of individual performers as well as documentation of theatrical and motion picture productions featuring African-Americans.

Publicity portraits, which comprise more than one-half of the collection, are organized by men, women, children, and groups, then chronologically by decade and/or alphabetically within each category. Group portraits consist of studio/publicity portraits as well as candid shots taken at parties, award ceremonies, and other gatherings.

The Collections and scrapbooks series contain portraits, candid shots, publicity photographs, theatrical scenes and motion picture stills documenting the careers of individual performers.

The Lillyn Brown collection (193?-196?) consists of portraits of entertainer Lillyn Brown, her associates and possibly friends, and theatrical production scenes. Lillyn Brown is depicted in publicity portraits, sometimes dressed in men's clothing, at various periods of her life. Her career is further documented by theatrical scenes, including a scene from "Skin Deep." Images of friends and colleagues include Ralph Bunche, Juanita Hall, Noble Sissle and Leigh Whipper. There is no documentation of her personal life.

The Evelyn Davis collection (193?-196?) consists mainly of portraits of actress Evelyn Davis at various periods in her life, and portraits of associates and possibly friends and family. Davis' career is documented by a production scene depicting her in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," possibly the 1955 CBS-TV production, and at a "Happy Birthday" cast party at Sardis. There is little documentation of Davis' personal life.

The Ida Forsyne collection (194?-196?) contains portraits of dancer Ida Forsyne mostly as an older woman, images of events she attended, and photographs of her friends and associates. Events pictured include Forsyne's 70th and 72nd birthday parties and NAG social gatherings at the Audubon Ballroom, Grand Street Boys Club, Hotel Commodore (1964), and Savoy Ballroom. Portraits of friends and colleagues include Lillyn Brown, Maceo Pinkard (1952), Eddie Rector (1931) and the musical group The Cavaliers. There is no documentation of Forsyne's career.

Ann Gaillard Freeman collection (190?-192?) contains unidentified studio portraits of men, including a World War I soldier, and women. Ann Gaillard Freeman is not identified.

The Bee Freeman collection (193?-196?) contains portraits of actress Bee Freeman, her associates and probably friends, and theatrical portraits and production scenes. Portraits of Bee Freeman include studio and publicity portraits taken at various periods in her life and a portrait study in character. Three unidentified theatrical productions depict Bee Freeman. Other portraits depict Leigh Whipper and Dooley Wilson. There is no documentation of Bee Freeman's personal life with the exception of images of her son, Kenn Freeman. Bee Freeman's early motion picture career is not documented; her career in general is not well documented.

The Kenn Freeman collection (194?-197?) contains portraits of actor Kenn Freeman, some documentation of his career, and portraits of associates and friends. Documentation of his career primarily consists of scenes from productions of the play "Anna Lucasta," and candid shots of the play's national and London touring companies. Also included is an image of a cast reunion party. The collection also contains scenes from "The Philanderer," featuring Kenn Freeman, and from the musical production "Calypso Carnival" showing Bee and Kenn Freeman and Prince Trinidad. There is no documentation of Freeman's personal and family life except for a few images of his mother, actress Bee Freeman.

The Virginia Girvan collection (193?-194?) contains a portrait of actress Virginia Girvan; a group portrait including Harold Jackman; a newspaper clipping picturing June Richmond; and publicity portraits of Al Moore. There are no career-related photographs of Virginia Girvan.

The Claire Lebensin collection (191?-195?) includes a group portrait depicting the Mayor of Boston presenting a key to "Anna Lucasta" cast members including Earle Hyman; men and women standing before the Alexander Tolliver Company tent; and an unidentified production scene. Claire Lebensin is not identified.

The Nettie Perry collection (191?-194?) contains studio portraits and candid shots of Nettie Perry, her associates, friends and family. Individuals pictured include Billie Burns, Celeste Butler, female impersonator Carmen Cortez, and boxers Dudley Kid Harris and Jackie "Kid" Reemes. There is no documentation of Nettie Perry's professional life.

The Eloise Bennett Scott collection (193?-194?) consists of portraits of Eloise Bennett Scott, her associates and friends, and a NAG event at the Savoy Ballroom. Individuals depicted include Ethel and Ralph Brown, Mamie Carter, Josephine Hall, Artie Billie McGinty, Alberta Pryme, and Susie Sutton. There is no documentation of Scott's professional life.

Al Vigal Scrapbook (193?-195?) consists of studio portraits and candid shots of a young Al Vigal, his family, associates, and probably friends. Individuals pictured include Honi Coles, Ida Forsyne and Freddi Washington. Also included is a production scene from the musical revue, "Soldier Drill," performed at Club Alhambra. The scrapbook does not document Vigal's later professional activities.

The Production scenes series consists of theatrical and motion picture scenes. These consists of scenes from the plays "Uncle Tom's Cabin," depicting Evelyn Davis and Virginia Grivan, and "A Comedy Act." Motion picture stills consist of publicity portraits of Rony Clanton as the star of "The Education of Sonny Carson" (1974), and stills from "Miracle in Harlem" (1948), featuring Savannah Churchhill, Stepin Fetchit, Kenn Freeman and Sheila Guyse. Also included in this series is a photomontage of two movie posters advertising "The Crimson Skull" (1921), depicting Anita Bush and Lawrence Chenault.

Terms Of Use

Restricted: Permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography

The Negro Actors Guild of America, Inc. (NAG) was incorporated in 1936 in New York City as a welfare and benevolent organization for mainly African-American performers. It was established with the assistance of the Theatre Authority, which encouraged black performers to form the Guild in order to become eligible for funds dispersed by the Theater Authority. Some of the services NAG provided were financial aid to indigent entertainers, visitations on black entertainers and gifts to the sick. The Guild kept statistics and maintained a biographical archive as well as publishing a quarterly journal, "The Negro Actor," from 1938-1940.

Among the founding members of NAG were Fredi Washington, W. C. Handy, Paul Robeson and Ethel Waters. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was named honorary president at its inception. Noble Sissle was the first elected president, 1937-1957; followed by Leigh Whipper, 1957-1960; Frederick O'Neal, 1960-1964; Charles "Honi" Coles, 1964-ca. 1980; and James Randolph, 1980-1981. In the mid-1970s the Guild received approximately $75,000 from photographer Carl Van Vechten's estate which almost tripled its treasury. The Guild had approximately 875 members when it collapsed in 1982 due to mishandling of funds and factional infighting.

Linking Entry

Forms part of the Negro Actors Guild of America Records, 1904-1982.

Local Note

Sc MG 259

Connect to:

NYPL Digital Collections

Local Subject

Caypso (Dance)

Added Author

Andrews, Bert. Photographer

Bakchy, Boris. Photographer

Bruno, Anthony J., 1894-1976, Photographer

Clemons, Curt. Photographer

Dummett, L. St. Clair. Photographer

Korman, Murray. Photographer

Kriegsmann, James J. Photographer

Layne, Cecil. Photographer

Poole, Paul. Photographer

Robinson, Albert. Photographer

Rossner, Harry. Photographer

Seymour, Maurice. Photographer

Smith, M. Photographer

Smith, Merritt. Photographer

Tucker, Lorenzo. Photographer

Van Der Zee, James, 1886-1983. Photographer

Winik, Paul. Photographer

Workman, David. Photographer

Arsene Studio (New York, N.Y.)

Bell Studio (New York, N.Y.)

Bloom (Chicago, Ill.)

Cameron Studio (New York, N.Y.)

Campbell's (New York, N.Y.)

Charles Studio (Oneonta, N.Y.)

De Camp (New York, N.Y.

Diaz & Rogers (New York, N.Y.)

Elcha (New York, N.Y.)

Fred Hess & Co. (Atlantic City, N.J.)

Gibson (Chicago, Ill.)

A. Hansen Studio (New York, N.Y.)

Hooks Bros. Studio (Memphis, Tenn.)

Kerr (New York, N.Y.)

Layne's Studio (New York, N.Y.)

Lucas & Monroe, Inc. (New York, N.Y.)

Maurice (New York, N.Y.)

Mitchell (New York, N.Y.)

Ottomar Studio (New York, N.Y.)

Patton Studio (Indianapolis, In.)

Progress (New York, N.Y.)

Rice Studio (Columbus, Oh.)

Smith Studios (Cleveland, Oh.)

Standard (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Strand Bookstore

Swisher (Chicago, Ill.)

Theatrical Studio (Chicago, Ill.)

Woodard's Studio (Chicago, Ill.)

Added Title

A comedy act.

Anna Lucasta.

Calypso carnival.

Crimson skull.

Miracle in Harlem.

The philanderer.

Skin deep.

Soldier drill.

Uncle Tom's cabin.

Found In:

c2tc Negro Actors Guild of America, Inc. Negro Actors Guild of America records, 1904-1982 (CStRLIN)NYPW89-A163

Research Call Number

Sc Photo Negro Actors Guild of America Collection