Scottsboro Mothers acetate film photonegative with contact proof print and 2 exhibition-quality enlargements

Object Details

General: 2 prints: In Box 80. Framed print stored separately.; Negative: In freezer storage, box no. 1.
Exhibitions Note: Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.: "The Historical Photographs of Addison N. Scurlock," 1976. (Catalog published.)

Photographer: Scurlock, Addison N., 1883-1964
Printer: Scurlock, Robert S. (Saunders), 1917-1994
Names: Y.W.C.A.; Bates, Ruby; Hamilton, Julia West
Subseries Creator: Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.); Scurlock, Robert S. (Saunders), 1917-1994; Custom Craft; Scurlock, Addison N., 1883-1964; Scurlock, George H. (Hardison), 1919-2005

Topic: Mothers; Civil rights; Scottsoro boys case; African American women; Scottsboro Trial, Scottsboro, Ala., 1931

See more items in: Scurlock Studio Records, Subseries 4.1: Black-and-White Silver Gelatin Negatives; Scurlock Studio Records, Subseries 4.1: Black-and-White Silver Gelatin Negatives / 4.1: Black-and-White Silver Gelatin negatives

Sponsor: The collection was acquired with assistance from the Eugene Meyer Foundation. Elihu and Susan Rose and the Save America's Treasures program, provided funds to stabilize, organize, store, and create digital surrogates of some of the negatives. Processing and encoding funded by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.

Biographical / Historical: A version of this photograph was printed in the national edition of the Afro American on May 19, 1934 with the caption, "Four of the Alabama mothers who were greeted by Mrs. Julia West Hamilton (center) chairman of the board of directors of the Phyllis Wheatley Y.W.C.A., as they arrived at the D.C. Y where they stayed until arrangements were made to see Marvin H. McIntyre, secretary to President Roosevelt. Left to right, Ruby Bates, white, Mrs. Mayme Williams, Mrs. Viola Montgomery, Mrs. Julia W. Hamilton, Mrs. Janie Patterson and Mrs. Ida Norris. The mothers are seeking the aid of President Roosevelt in an effort to save their sons lives." The image was taken May 13, 1934 at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, 901 Rhode Island Ave. N.W., Washington. Bates was an accuser of the "Scottsboro Boys" who recanted, Williams, Montgomery, Patterson and Norris were mothers to five of the accused. Prints probably made by Robert S. Scurlock much later, ca. 1960s-1970s? Caption and reproduction of photograph from the Baltimore Afro American provided by Craig Simpson after Pro Quest search.

Medium: Negative: Silver gelatin on cellulose acetate film sheet, 8" x 10".; Contact print: Silver gelatin on paper, 8" x 10".
Condition: Negative in early stages of acetate degradation.

Subseries Citation: Scurlock Studio Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Smithsonian Institution

Subseries Rights: When the Museum purchased the collection from the Estate of Robert S. Scurlock, it obtained all rights, including copyright. The earliest photographs in the collection are in the public domain because their term of copyright has expired. The Archives Center will control copyright and the use of the collection for reproduction purposes, which will be handled in accordance with its standard reproduction policy guidelines. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Genre/Form: Later prints; Contact prints -- 1950-2000; Photographs -- 1930-1940 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin

Scope and Contents: Six women standing in room.; Negative: Edge marked "E Scottsborough [sic] Mothers". Negative slightly warped.; Contact print: Single-weight Kodak paper. Marked on verso: "A 183 / 'Scottsboro Case' Mothers / 5. w/ Julia West Hamilton." Also marked with studio rubber stamp (zip code 20009).; Enlarged print: Double-weight, warm-tone paper; studio stamp with zip code on verso. marked: "'Scottsboro' mothers, photographed on a visit to 'Phyliss Wheatley' [sic]--Y.W.C.A. 9th & Rhode Island Av. N.W. / greeted by Mrs. Julia West Hamilton, president of 'Y' / Photo by Addison N. Scurlock"; Enlarged print, framed: Cat. No. 1998.0011.096, approx. 11" x 14".

Subseries Restrictions: Collection is open for research. Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives. Special arrangements required to view negatives due to cold storage. Using negatives requires a three hour waiting period. Contact the Archives Center at 202-633-3270.