Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Cottrol, Robert W.
2. Haggins, Robert L., 1922-2006
3. Layne, Cecil
4. Sheffield, Maceo B.
5. Yearwood, Lloyd
6. Anbāʼ al-Sharq al-Awsaṭ.
7. United Press International

Found in

1. p1tc X, Malcolm, 1925-1965 The Malcolm X collection: papers, 1948-1965 (CStRLIN)NYPG05-A10040

Description

1. <3921> items (5.39 cu. ft., 23 boxes); 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.

Summary

1. The collection (1950s to mid-1960s) consists of personal photographs of Malcolm X and family, documents many of Malcolm X's activities with the Nation of Islam, and also documents some of the activities of the Nation of Islam, from the 1950s to the mid-1960s. Because of Malcolm X's multiple roles as the national spokesman for the Nation of Islam and minister of several mosques, mainly Muhammad's Mosque No. 7 (Harlem, New York), he is depicted throughout all three series. The collection does not document Malcolm X's activities after he left the Nation of Islam.
2. The Shabazz Family series consists of personal photographs of the Shabazz family; some members of the Little family; friends and associates; and views of travel. The series includes snapshot portraits of Malcolm X and his wife, Betty Shabazz, together, and with their children (1964); individual and group portraits of daughters Attallah, Qubilah and Ilyasah, at home (ca. 1960-1964); candid portraits of Malcolm X carrying his daughter Ilyasah (1964); candid portraits of Malcolm X and his family visiting boxer Muhammad Ali at his Florida training camp (1964), that include views of Ali with friends and fans; two candid shots of Malcolm X in Africa (ca. 1964); and portraits of African-American expatriates and visitors, and views of crowds, possibly photographed by Malcolm X during his visits to various African countries, particularly Nigeria and Ghana (ca. 1964).
3. The Malcolm X Activities series depicts many of his activities as national spokesman for the Nation of Islam and minister of Muhammad's Mosque No. 7 (Harlem, New York), from the mid-1950s to 1964. Malcolm X's post-Nation of Islam activities are not depicted in the photograph collection. The series includes portraits of Minister Malcolm X; views of Minister Malcolm X addressing Muslim rallies, mainly in Harlem; as a speaker and participant at several college and university sponsored debates and lectures; at various radio and television appearances; speaking at church gatherings; and meeting with other individuals, including fellow Muslims. Of note are views of Minister Malcolm X addressing various Muslim rallies held mostly in front of Lewis Michaux's National Memorial African Bookstore in Harlem (ca. 1960-1963); during a debate at Howard University, Washington, D.C., which includes Howard president James M. Nabrit and activist Bayard Rustin (ca. 1961); and before and during a WMCA radio debate on "The Barry Gray Show," which includes activist James Farmer and actor Ossie Davis, in New York (1962). Among those depicted with Malcolm X are politicians J. Raymond Jones and Percy Sutton, ministers Louis X (Farrakhan), Eugene Bullock and David Licorish, attorney Paul Zuber, activists Anna Arnold Hedgeman and Lewis Michaux, author James Baldwin, musician Babatunde Olatunji, and journalists George Schuyler and Gabe Pressman.
4. The Nation of Islam series depicts some of the organization's ministers and other officials, activities, and events, from the 1950s to the early 1960s. The series consists of formal and candid portraits of Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, his family, and members of the organization; views of Muslim mass rallies; activities and views of various mosques and Muslim-owned businesses in different cities, which are also depicted in a collection of color slides; and portraits of the key individuals and views of the activities surrounding some legal cases involving Nation of Islam members. Included are formal and candid portraits of Elijah Muhammad (ca. 1950s-1960s); Elijah Muhammad at his first press conference (n.d.) and addressing Muslim mass rallies; views of Elijah Muhammad and audience members at various Muslim mass rallies, including Washington, D.C. (1961), the Savior's Day Convention, Chicago (1961), Detroit (1962) and Philadelphia (1962); views from Muhammad's Mosque No. 7 and Restaurant No. 7 (Harlem, New York) where Malcolm X was minister (1960s); portraits of Minister Louis X (Farrakhan), minister of Mosque No. 11 (Boston), and his family (ca. 1960s); and exterior and interior views of the "Muhammad Speaks" newspaper offices in New York. Included in this series are views of the facilities, instructors and students at the University of Islam, No. 2, Chicago (ca. 1950s), and stills from a performance of Minister Farrakhan's play "Orgena" (n.d.), depicted in color slides.
5. Of special note are a number of images documenting the Ronald Stokes police brutality case in Los Angeles, from 1962-1963. Depicted are views of evidence of the police raid on Muhammad's Mosque No. 27 (Los Angeles); morgue photos of the fatally shot mosque member Ronald Stokes; portraits and candid shots of the mosque members who were arrested, after their release from police custody, in the hospital displaying their injuries, and meeting, probably, with legal counsel; views of anti-police brutality rallies; and views of Stokes's funeral at Mosque No. 27, the funeral motorcade, and Stokes's burial. Also depicted are candid views of Muslims, Minister Malcolm X and members of the press gathered outside and inside the Los Angeles County Courthouse during the legal proceedings; group portraits and candid shots of the defendants arriving at the courthouse; and views inside the courthouse of the defense attorneys, the defendants' families and supporters, the jury for the Coroner's inquest, and the police officers involved in the case.
6. Among those depicted in the Nation of Islam series are Minister Malcolm X, Wallace Deen (Warith Deen) Muhammad, radio minister Elder Lightfoot Michaux, Minister John Shabazz of Muhammad's Mosque No. 27 (Los Angeles), and NAACP Los Angeles Branch president Edward Warren.

Alternative title

1. Malcolm X photograph collection

Subject

1. X, Malcolm, 1925-1965
2. Shabazz, Betty
3. Shabazz family
4. Elijah Muhammad, 1897-1975
5. Ali, Muhammad, 1942-2016
6. Davis, Ossie
7. Farrakhan, Louis
8. Gray, Barry, 1916-
9. Howard, C. P. (Charles P.)
10. Jones, J. Raymond (John Raymond), 1899-
11. Michaux, Lightfoot
12. Michaux, Lewis
13. Muhammad, Warith Deen, 1933-2008
14. Nabrit, James M. (James Madison), 1900-
15. Stokes, Ronald
16. Nation of Islam (Chicago, Ill.)
17. Black Muslims
18. African Americans -- Religion
19. Black nationalism -- United States
20. Muslims -- United States
21. Radio programs -- New York (State) -- New York
22. Religious gatherings
23. Forums (Discussion and debate)
24. Demonstrations -- New York (State) -- New York
25. Demonstrations -- California -- Los Angeles
26. Trials -- California -- Los Angeles
27. Police brutality -- California -- Los Angeles
28. African American families
29. African Americans -- Social life and customs
30. African American businesses
31. Mosques
32. African Americans -- Travel -- Africa

Genre/Form

1. Portrait photographs – 1950-1969.
2. Group portraits – 1950-1969.
3. Snapshots – 1950-1969.
4. Gelatin silver prints – 1950-1969.
5. Dye coupler prints – 1950-1969.
6. Contact sheets – 1960-1969.
7. Slides – 1960-1969.
8. Film negatives – 1950-1969.

Call number

1. Sc Photo The Malcolm X Collection

Language

1. English

Note

1. Title devised by cataloger.
2. Some photographs bear photographer's handstamp on verso. Some items bear handwritten notations on verso; some items have printed caption labels attached to verso. Some items bear cropping marks; some items are cropped.
3. Collection contains work by Robert W. Cottrol, Robert L. Haggins, Cecil Layne, Maceo B. Sheffield, and Lloyd Yearwood, among others.

Access (note)

1. Access: viewing of collection by appointment only. Slides and negatives closed.

Terms of use (note)

1. Collection is restricted; photocopying and personal photography are not permitted.
2. Photographic duplication requires permission of the copyright holder.

Biography (note)

1. African-American nationalist leader and minister of the Nation of Islam (religious body) who sought to broaden the civil rights struggle in the United States into an international human rights issue, and who subsequently founded the Muslim Mosque Incorporated and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City on February 21, 1965.

Indexes/finding aids (note)

1. Finding aid available;

Linking entry (note)

1. Forms part of: The Malcolm X Collection: Papers, 1948-1965.

Author

1. X, Malcolm, 1925-1965.

Indexes

1. Finding aid available; folder level control.

Connect to:

1. NYPL Digital Collections
2. Finding aid