Click to Enlarge

Scurlock Studio and Black Washington, The: Picturing the Promise [Hardcover] By Paul Gardullo (Editor), Michelle Delaney (Editor), Jacquelyn D. Derwer (Editor) & Bunch, Lonnie G., III (Editor) Our Price $ 25.90   Retail Value $ 35.00   You Save $ 9.10  (26%)   Item Number 1550966   Buy New $25.90 Quantity: Available on the Internet only.

Item description for Scurlock Studio and Black Washington, The: Picturing the Promise by Paul Gardullo, Michelle Delaney, Jacquelyn D. Derwer & Bunch, Lonnie G., III ...

Nearly a century's worth of Scurlock photographs combine to form a searing portrait of black Washington in all its guises—its challenges and its victories, its dignity and its determination. Beginning in the early twentieth century and continuing into the 1990s, Addison Scurlock, followed by his sons, Robert and George, used their cameras to document and celebrate a community unique in the world, and a stronghold in the history and culture of the nation's capital.

Through photographs of formal weddings, elegant cotillions, ballet studios, and quiet family life, the Scurlocks revealed a world in which the black middle class refused to be defined or held captive by discrimination. From its home on the vibrant U Street corridor, the Scurlock Studio gave us indelible images of leaders and luminaries, of high society and working class, of Washingtonians at work and at play. In photograph after photograph, the Scurlocks captured an optimism and resiliency seldom seen in mainstream depictions of segregated society.

Luminaries such as Duke Ellington, Ralph Bunche, Mary McLeod Bethune, Alain Locke, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Lois Mailou Jones testify to the intellectual and cultural vibrancy that was unique to Washington and an inspiration to the nation. Photographs of a Peoples Drugstore protest and Marian Anderson's Easter morning concert at the Lincoln Memorial remind us that the struggle for equality in black Washington began long before the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Offering a rich lens into our past, The Scurlock Studio and Black Washington is a powerful trigger of personal and historical memory.
“The book tells a fascinating story of the complex social and cultural world of African Americans in 20th-century Washington and opens a window into the broader world of black America and the struggle for racial justice.”—James Oliver Horton, Benjamin Banneker Professor Emeritus of American Studies and History, George Washington University

“This wonderful compilation provides a valuable visual narrative of a critical era in the evolution of black Washington. Capturing the people, places, and events that helped shape a powerful city, the Scurlocks created a precious historical record of transition and change in the nation's capital.”—Ronald Walters, Distinguished Leadership Scholar, Professor of Government and Politics, University of Maryland

“‘Those were the days!' This beautiful book reminds me of the 1940s and '50s, a time when sitting for a Scurlock photograph signified a rite of passage. I sat in 1948 by which time I knew something of the significance of such a venture. This book offers readers a delightful trip back to that memorable time.”—John Hope Franklin, James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of History, Duke University, and 1995 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

“With more than 100 images, this book is a proud celebration of a vibrant community from the early to late twentieth century.”—Booklist
The Scurlock Studio and Black Washington: Picturing the Promise is the companion volume to the National Museum of African American History and Culture's (NMAAHC) exhibition that opened in January 2009. This was the inaugural exhibition of the new NMAAHC Gallery at the National Museum of American History, where all of the NMAAHC's exhibitions will be held until its museum building opens in 2015.

This volume was edited by Paul Gardullo, Museum Curator, NMAAHC; Michelle Delaney, Associate Curator of Photography, National Museum of American History; Jacquelyn D. Serwer, Chief Curator, NMAAHC; and Lonnie G. Bunch III, Founding Director of NMAAHC.

Promise Angels is dedicated to bringing you great books at great prices. Whether you read for entertainment, to learn, or for literacy - you will find what you want at promiseangels.com!

Item Specifications...

More About Paul Gardullo, Michelle Delaney, Jacquelyn D. Derwer & Bunch, Lonnie G., III

Are You The Artisan or Author behind this product? Improve our customers experience by registering for an Artisan Biography Center Homepage.

Product Categories

Reviews - What do customers think about Scurlock Studio and Black Washington, The: Picturing the Promise?

	Filling A Much Needed Void  Mar 7, 2009
As a nearly lifelong resident of the Washington area and a collector of photography books, I've always wondered why there has never been any comprehensive survey of the Addison Scurlock Studio. For those who may not be acquainted with the name, Scurlock was roughly to Washington what James Van Der Zee was to New York: The man that African Americans went to for that special portrait. After having been to the Smithsonian exhibit in the temporary location of the new African American History Museum, I bought the book and was more than pleased to see that it easily surpassed my hopes and expectations. All aspects of the Scurlock Studio are well represented: the portraits of well known and unknown Washingtonians; the city of Washington, including events and storefronts; the visiting celebrities ranging from DuBois to Fredi Washington; and many photographs of the leaders, students and faculty of Howard University, where Addison Scurlock and his sons Robert and George were the "unofficial official photographers" for the better part of the 20th century. To put my opinion of this book in a bit of personal perspective, I own nearly a thousand photography books, many of them scarce and collectible. This magnificent monograph more than holds its own among the best of them, and it belongs in the collection of any person or family who wants to understand where we've been and how we got to where we are. With its almost absurdly low list price, it's an absolute steal for anyone with an interest in either photography or African American history.

Write your own review about Scurlock Studio and Black Washington, The: Picturing the Promise

Ask A Question or Provide Feedback regarding Scurlock Studio and Black Washington, The: Picturing the Promise

Add This Product Widget To Your Website

Looking to add this information to your own website? Then use our Product Widget to allow you to display product information in a frame that is 120 pixels wide by 240 pixels high.