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Images of 20th Century African American Activists: A Select List

Listed below are images of individuals frequently requested by researchers for which staff have been able to find acceptable quality images in the Prints and Photographs Division collections. Except where otherwise noted in the "Reproduction Number" line, images are considered to be in the public domain. Select the thumbnail image to retrieve and print or download larger jpeg and tiff images through the Prints & Photographs Online Catalog (in cases where the rights status of the image is not known, only a "thumbnail" image will display).

Photographic copies of the images may be ordered through the Library of Congress Photoduplication Service (202-707-5640). When placing orders, the reproduction number should be cited.

  1. Ralph Abernathy portrait
    Description: RALPH ABERNATHY, head-and-shoulders, at National Press Club luncheon. Photograph by Warren K. Leffler, 1968 June 14.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-19265
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-19265-frame #9

  2. Mary McCleod Bethune portrait Description: MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE, half-length, wearing white blouse and jacket. Silver gelatin photographic print by Carl Van Vechten, 1949 April 6.
    Location of Original: LOT 12735, no. 130
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-42476

  3. H. Rap Brown portrait
    Description:Description: H. RAP BROWN, SNCC, at news conference, bust-length, seated, speaking into microphone, wearing denim(?) jacket with buttons on lapel, small bandage on his forehead, gesturing with forefinger. Photograph by Marion S. Trikosko, 1967 July 27.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-17744
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-17744-frame #27A/28

  4. Nannie Helen Burroughs portrait
    Description: NANNIE HELEN BURROUGHS, half-length, wearing white blouse, pinafore(?), and necklaces, hair pinned up. Silver gelatin photographic print on bromide paper (postcard stock) by Rotograph Co., New York City, 1909.
    Location of Original: LOT 12572-1
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-79903

  5. Shirley Chisholm portrait Description: SHIRLEY CHISHOLM announcing candidacy for presidential nomination, bust-length, wearing dress with collar and necklace. Photograph by Tom O'Halloran, 1972 Jan. 25.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-25383
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-25383-frame #33

  6. Eldridge Cleaver portrait Description: ELDRIDGE CLEAVER, bust-length, his left hand on his goatee. Photograph by Marion S. Trikosko, 1968 Oct. 18.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-20018
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-20018, frame #9A

  7. Angela Davis poster
    Description: "Free ANGELA DAVIS now!" [Reproduction of photograph of Angela Davis, head-and-shoulders, head turned to left, legend underneath.] Poster sponsored by New York Committee to Free Angela Davis, artist unknown, ca. 1971.
    Location of Original: POS 6 - U.S. 733; also available as digital image when searching Prints and Photographs Online Catalog onsite.
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-105252 [Rights status not known.]

  8. W.E.B. Dubois portrait Description: W.E.B. (WILLIAM EDWARD BURGHARDT) DUBOIS, bust-length, wearing suit and bow tie. Silver gelatin photographic print by C.M. Battey, 1918.
    Location of Original: Biographical File.
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-16767

  9. Medgar Evers portrait
    Description: MEDGAR EVERS, bust-length, wearing jacket and tie. Silver gelatin photographic print, 1963 June 15(?) [probably date of publication]
    Location of Original: New York World Telegram and Sun Collection, Biog.
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-109400 [Rights status not known.]

  10. James Farmer portrait Description: JAMES FARMER at meeting of American Society of Newspaper Editors, bust-length, seated in front of microphone, wearing jacket and tie. Photograph by Marion S. Trikosko, 1964 April 15.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-11814
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-11814-frame #28

  11. Marcus Garvey portrait Description: MARCUS GARVEY, full-length, seated at desk. Silver gelatin photographic print, 1924 Aug. 5, from George Grantham Bain Collection.
    Location of Original: Biographical File.
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ61-1854

  12. Fanny Lou Hamer portrait Description: FANNIE LOU HAMER at Democratic National Convention, Atlantic City, N.J, half-length, seated at table. Photograph by Warren K. Leffler, 1964 Aug. 22.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-12470-B
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-12470-B-frame #17

  13. Fanny Lou Hamer portrait Description: JESSE JACKSON, half-length, seated at table, wearing jacket and tie, gesturing with his hands. Photograph by Warren K. Leffler, 1983 July 1.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-41583
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-41583-frame #29

  14. James Weldon Johnson portrait Description: JAMES WELDON JOHNSON, half-length, facing forward, wearing jacket and tie. Silver gelatin photograph by Carl Van Vechten, 1932 Dec. 3.
    Location of Original: LOT 12735, no. 590
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-42498

  15. Barbara Jordan portrait Description: BARBARA JORDAN, head-and-shoulders, seated. Photograph by Tom O'Halloran, 1976 April 7.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-32512
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-32512-frame #12

  16. Martin Luther King portrait Description: MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. at a press conference at the Capitol, Washington, D.C., head-and- shoulders, grasping front of podium. Photograph by Marion S. Trikosko, 1964 March 26.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-11696
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-11696-frame #9A

  17. John Lewis portrait Description: JOHN LEWIS at meeting of American Society of Newspaper Editors, head-and-shoulders, seated in front of microphone. Photograph by Marion S. Trikosko, 1964 April 16.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-11812
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-11812-frame #26

  18. Malcolm X portrait Description: MALCOLM X, head and shoulders, seated, leaning with right hand to head, waiting for press conference. Photograph by Marion S. Trikosko, 1964 March 26.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-11695
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-11695-frame #5

  19. Thurgood Marshall portrait Description: THURGOOD MARSHALL, half-length, seated, wearing coat and tie. Photograph by Tom O'Halloran, 1957 Sept. 17.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-1027-B
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-1027-B-frame #11

  20. Rosa Parks portrait Description: ROSA PARKS, seated on bus, looking out window, her face in profile. Photographed at the end of the Montgomery bus boycott, 21 Dec. 1956. United Press photo.
    Location of Original: New York World-Telegram & Sun Collection, SUBJ/GEOG - Racism
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-111235 [Rights status not known.]

  21. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., portrait Description: ADAM CLAYTON POWELL, JR., head-and-shoulders, wearing jacket and tie. Silver gelatin photograph by James J. Kriegmann, N.Y., [ca. 1968]
    Location of Original: Biographical File.
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-38826 ["no restrictions" --photo caption]

  22. A. Philip Randolph portrait Description: A. PHILIP RANDOLPH, head-and-shoulders, wearing jacket and tie. Silver gelatin photograph by Gordon Parks for Office of War Information, Washington, D.C., 1942 Nov.
    Location of Original: Biographical File.
    Reproduction Number: LC-USW3-11697

  23. Bayard Rustin portrait
    [37K JPEG]
    retrieve tiff image [4.3M]
    Description: BAYARD RUSTIN at news briefing on Civil Rights March on Washington, seated at table, wearing jacket bearing buttons on lapel and tie, listening to man at his right. Photograph by Warren K. Leffler, 1963 Aug. 27.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-10332
    Reproduction no: LC-U9-10332-frame #11

  24. Bobby Seale poster
    Description: BOBBY SEALE, "Here and new for Bobby Seale." Poster showing Bobby Seale's head and shoulders, with text superimposed above his head and on his chest. Poster produced between 1965 and 1975 under sponsorship of the Black Panther Party. Artist unknown.
    Location of Original: POS 6 - U.S., no. 424 (C size); also available as digital image when searching Prints and Photographs Online Catalog onsite.
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-107186 (b&w film copy neg.); LC-USZC4-6285 (color film copy transparency) [Rights status not known.]

  25. Mary Church Terrell portrait Description: MARY CHURCH TERRELL, full-length, seated, chin resting on hand, wearing white dress. Copy of photograph owned by Terrell's family, [190-? (date of original)]
    Location of Original: Biographical File.
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-54722

  26. Ida B. Wells portrait Description: IDA B. WELLS, head-and shoulders portrait, facing slightly right. Illustration in The Afro-American Press and Its Editors, by I. Garland Penn, 1891.
    Location of Original: Rare Book and Special Collections Division: PN4888.N4P4
    Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-107756

  27. Roy Wilkins portrait Description: ROY WILKINS, head-and-shoulders, wearing jacket and tie. Photograph by Warren K. Leffler, 1963 April 4.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-9522
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-9522-frame #6

  28. Andrew Young portrait Description: ANDREW YOUNG speaking to congressional Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, bust-length, seated, wearing jacket and tie. Photograph by Tom O'Halloran, 1977 June 6.
    Location of Original: U.S. News and World Report Collection: LC-U9-34630A
    Reproduction Number: LC-U9-34630A-frame #13/13A

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  April 30, 2004
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