Research Catalog

Title

Harlem photographs / Layne's Studio.

Author

Layne's Studio (New York, N.Y.)

Publication

[between 1953 and 1957?]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Layne, Cecil

Description

• 40 items (.3 cubic ft., one box); 21 x 26 cm and smaller.
• 40 photographic prints : gelatin silver, black and white ;

Summary

Depictions primarily of residents, living conditions and small businesses in the area now occupied by Savoy Park (formerly Delano Village), in central Harlem, New York, about 1953, consisting of views of tenement buildings, residents outside tenements and along the streets, local automotive repair shops and a moving company, fenced off vacant lots strewn with garbage, and abandoned buildings including a wooden dwelling. Photographs were possibly taken for a news story about the status of urban renewal plans for north Harlem. Also included are views of singer Harry Belafonte performing at "A Royal Salute to Harry Belafonte" at the Harlem Y.M.C.A., with wife Marguerite in attendance (1957); and a dance class conducted by actress/singer/dancer Eartha Kitt, held at the Harlem Y.M.C.A. (1956).

Subject

• Belafonte, Harry, 1927-2023
• Kitt, Eartha
• African Americans > New York (State) > New York
• African Americans > Economic & social conditions > New York (State) > New York > 1950-1959
• Dwellings > New York (State) > New York > 1950-1959
• Business enterprises > New York (State) > New York > 1950-1959
• Abandoned buildings > New York (State) > New York > 1950-1959
• City & town life > New York (State) > New York > 1950-1959
• Events > New York (State) > New York > 1950-1959
• Dancers > New York (State) > New York > 1950-1959
• Journalism, Pictorial > New York (State) > New York
• Harlem (New York, N.Y.)

Genre/Form

Gelatin silver prints – 1950-1959.

Note

• Title based on photo captions.
• Most photographs bear photography studio's hand stamp on verso. Some photographs bear handwritten captions on verso. Some items are duplicates.
• Some items were originally captured 1956-1957, and printed at later date.

Terms of Use (note)

• Collection is under copyright; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography (note)

• Cecil Layne, 1911-1990, was a New York City born African American photojournalist and portait photographer. Introduced, as a young man, to photography at the Harlem Y.M.C.A., Layne joined the Army in 1943 and, while overseas, studied at the G.I. American School of Photography in Marseilles, France, and served as photo editor for the armed services newspaper bureau. During the late 1940s, Layne returned to New York, studied at the Modern School of Photography and opened Layne's Studio in Harlem. Though established as a portrait photographer, Layne became known for his photojournalism, with his work published in such journals as the N.Y. Amsterdam News, the Pittsburgh Courier and the Chicago Defender. In 1966, he was named "Photographer of the Year" by the New York Photographers Guild. In 1971, Layne moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he continued his photography career. He died there in 1990.

Call Number

Sc Photo Portfolio (Layne, C.)

OCLC

1285138767

Author

Layne's Studio (New York, N.Y.)

Title

Harlem photographs / Layne's Studio.

Production

[between 1953 and 1957?]

Type of Content

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

sheet

Terms Of Use

Collection is under copyright; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography

Cecil Layne, 1911-1990, was a New York City born African American photojournalist and portait photographer. Introduced, as a young man, to photography at the Harlem Y.M.C.A., Layne joined the Army in 1943 and, while overseas, studied at the G.I. American School of Photography in Marseilles, France, and served as photo editor for the armed services newspaper bureau. During the late 1940s, Layne returned to New York, studied at the Modern School of Photography and opened Layne's Studio in Harlem. Though established as a portrait photographer, Layne became known for his photojournalism, with his work published in such journals as the N.Y. Amsterdam News, the Pittsburgh Courier and the Chicago Defender. In 1966, he was named "Photographer of the Year" by the New York Photographers Guild. In 1971, Layne moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he continued his photography career. He died there in 1990.

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Added Author

Layne, Cecil, photographer.

Research Call Number

Sc Photo Portfolio (Layne, C.)