The Photographs of SCLC

Posted

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. 

Above left: Joseph Lowery meets with Billy Graham, 1993. Above right: Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, undated.
Above left: Al Gore, 1995. Above right: Judge Joe Brown at an unidentified event, undated. 
Above left: Sammy Davis, Jr. shakes hands with young fans, undated. Above right: South African activist and bishop Desmond Tutu addresses a crowd, undated. 

NOTE:  The Southern Christian Leadership records currently are closed for processing.  They are expected to open Spring 2012.  Please contact the archivist for more information.