Claude A. Barnett collection of visual materials

  • Collection ID 1980.0213
  • Creator Names Barnett, Claude, 1889-1967.
  • Title Claude A. Barnett collection of visual materials, [graphic], 1890-1969, bulk 1920-1969.
  • Physical description
    • 1879 photographic prints : b&w ; 11 x 14 in. or smaller.
    • 5 albums (containing 500 photographic prints) ; 8 x 10 in.
    • ca. 75 photomechanical prints : b&w ; 47 x 32 cm (23 1/2 x 16 in.) or smaller.
    • 14 photomechanical prints : broadside, few col. ; 11 x 14 in. or smaller.
    • 7 photomechanical prints : envelope, col. ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller.
    • 14 negatives : cellulose nitrate ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller.
    • 5 negatives : b&w ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller.
    • 4 negatives : col. ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller.
    • 1 folder of non-graphic material.
    • 17 broadsides ; large format.
  • Collection arrangement Organization: By topic.
  • Access and usage restrictions
    • Nitrate negatives restricted from access, see reference copies instead.
    • Advance appointment required to view color material in cold storage or negatives in cool storage; please email research@chicagohistory.org.
  • Collection summary
    • Primarily photoprints of Afro-Americans collected during Barnett's career as founder and director of the Chicago-based Associated Negro Press (1919-1964), some images photographed by Gordon Parks. Includes Black events and significant personalities in diverse fields supplied to the ANP for distribution to Black newspapers, 1920s-1960s; his topical interests (higher education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, entertainment, medicine, politics, civil rights, sports, armed forces, and relations with various African nations and Haiti), 1910-1960s; a few family snapshots of Mr. and Mrs. Claude A. Barnett (Etta Moten, a singer and actress), and several broadsides mostly from the 1930s concerning Chicago political topics, performances of Etta Moten, calls to rally about the Ku Klux Klan, trade unions, post-war equal employment, and self-help for Blacks.
    • Large broadsides are primarily items relating to African Americans and associated events in Chicago and the United States. Events include the American Negro Exposition (1940 : Chicago, Ill.), the death of Edgar Brown (1954), the NAACP Annual Freedom Fund dinner (1959 : Chicago, Ill.), and concerts by singer Etta Moten (Mrs. Claude A.) Barnett (ca. 1949-1959). Includes 2 U.S. government posters from World War II showing African Americans. One advertisement for war bonds shows a baby, and the other honors Dorie Miller for action at Pearl Harbor in 1942. Other advertising material relates to the National Negro Insurance Association (ca. 1930) and films about African American progress. Also includes a few pieces of political ephemera calling for the re-election of President Hoover (1932), and calling for discrimination in voting in Texas elections (ca. 1940-1949). One item relates to the Illinois Civil Rights Law (ca. 1948).
  • Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Many items copyrighted.
  • Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory with container list available (80-213).
  • Acquisition information Gift of Etta Moten Barnett, 1977 (1980.0213).
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Claude A. Barnett papers, the Etta Moten Barnett papers, and microfilm of major portions of the Claude A. Barnett papers by University Publications of America (made in 1985).
  • Names
    • Barnett, Claude, 1889-1967 Portraits.
    • Barnett, Etta Moten, 1901-2004 Portraits.
    • Miller, Doris, 1919-1944 Portraits.
    • Parks, Gordon, 1912-2006.
    • Associated Negro Press
  • Subjects
    • African Americans Commerce
    • African Americans
    • African Americans Education
    • African Americans Politics and government
    • African American women Illinois Chicago.
    • African Americans Employment Illinois Chicago.
    • Business & finance United States. lctgm
    • Business enterprises Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • City & town life Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Clergymen United States. lctgm
    • Cosmetics & soap Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Entertainers United States. lctgm
    • Farming Southern states. lctgm
    • Government officials United States. lctgm
    • International relations United States. lctgm
    • Medicine United States. lctgm
    • Military organizations United States. lctgm
    • Muslims Illinois Chicago.
    • Newspaper industry Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Religion United States. lctgm
    • Reporters United States. lctgm
    • Sports United States. lctgm
    • Streets Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Teachers United States. lctgm
  • Geographic coverage
    • Tuskegee Institute (Tuskegee, Ala.)
    • Africa Foreign economic relations United States.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social conditions.
    • Haiti Foreign economic relations United States.
    • Southern States Economic conditions
  • Genre
    • Broadsides. gmgpc
    • Envelopes Color. gmgpc
    • Photograph albums. gmgpc
    • Cellulose nitrate negatives. gmgpc
    • Cyanotypes. gmgpc
    • Dye coupler negatives. gmgpc
    • Film negatives. gmgpc
    • Film negatives Color. gmgpc
    • Halftone photomechanical prints. gmgpc
    • Gelatin silver prints. gmgpc
  • Finding aid URL