‘This is what we did’: an introduction to processing the Jim Alexander photographs

by Mariah Isbell, Visiting Archivist for the Jim Alexander Photographs.

I am ecstatic and grateful to be the Visiting Archivist for the Jim Alexander Photographs at the Stuart A. Rose Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Library of Emory University Libraries.

The visiting archivist position is a three-year grant funded project made capable by the Getty Foundation’s Black Visual Arts Archives initiative and Dr. N’Kosi Oates, Curator of African American Collections, as the primary investigator for the grant.

In this role, I will handle processing the photographs and papers of James “Jim” Alexander (1935-). Jim Alexander is a notable photographer, documentarian, entrepreneur, consultant, activist, community figure, and educator. Hailing from New Jersey, to creating significant ties in Connecticut, and eventually calling Atlanta, Georgia home. He embodies the traits of a true Renaissance person; one that has and continues to live many lives. Through his photography he dedicates his practice and engagement to Black life and culture, Black arts, and social and political movements.

Prior to joining the Rose Library, I worked as a project archivist at Atlanta History Center (AHC), where I processed a variety of large volume manuscripts and visual arts materials. At AHC, I processed the records of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia; Southern Railway; Atlanta Department of City Planning; Atlanta Urban Design Commission; and the Atlanta Real Estate Board. Aside from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia records, I had not exclusively worked on African American collections. However, the other collections describe and have significant documentation on Black Atlanta, civic and political development, socioeconomic plights, and opinions and discourse of its predominantly African American population. Working with those materials shifted my professional goals towards developing a deeper academic and researcher perspective, from strictly as a practitioner. Specifically, some of my research interests include land use and governance, gentrification, city planning, city infrastructure, and public housing developments.

In recent weeks of adjusting into this role, I have looked through a small fraction of photographs and papers and had an introduction with Jim Alexander himself. I am amazed by the breadth of his work, care, and tenderness he upholds when capturing and adding to the legacy of history and Black visual arts. Before entering this role, my knowledge of the arts, Black arts, or the Black Arts Movement was rudimentary. This is a new focal area for me, as it is an area that I had not fully immersed or explored, from an archival, academic, or research perspective. My approach to processing these materials, as it is with all collections I have processed, is continuously developing a holistic understanding and knowledge base. It is also shaped with a heightened level of care that these are the materials of a beloved and prominent individual who has entrusted their legacy with an institution.

All the more, that is why I am appreciative for the opportunity to further develop my archival practice through processing a large photographic collection, one that is Black centered, and expanding my knowledge of Black arts and culture. I have great colleagues to lean on from all sides of Rose Library, but especially the collections services staff and the African American collection development staff (Dr. N’Kosi Oates, Curator for African American Collections and Kayla Annan, Collections Development Archivist for African American Collections).

I plan to blog throughout my time as a visiting archivist, so stay tuned for added updates on processing the Jim Alexander photographs and my educational development!