The
Frank Summerfield McKnight Photographic Collection
The F. S. McKnight Photographic Collection consists of the
photographer's camera, studio equipment and customer registers
along with over 14,000 dry glass plate negatives and an equal
number of photographs. The images, made in Aberdeen, Mississippi
between 1894 and 1930 include street scenes as well as studio
and group portraits from all races and classes.
As McKnight photographed Aberdeen's children, families, officials,
socialites, farmers, homemakers and industrial workers, he
carefully etched a number onto the upper right hand corner
of each glass negative. The numbers on the negatives correspond
to numbers found in McKnight's eleven studio registers in
which he scrupulously listed the customer’s name, address,
race, as well as the number and format of the photographs
ordered. McKnight also listed whether or not the bill was
paid, (noting as "deadbeat" those who failed to
pay) prices paid, and purchase order specifics. Because of
the survival of this meticulous documentation, the F.S. McKnight
Collection is a valuable resource for historians, genealogists
and others.
The collection has survived for 64 years since McKnight's
death at 86 and was given to the Evans Memorial Library in
1971 by John Velhart.
>> find
out more and see exhibition photographs
|
