Research Catalog

Title

Fredi Washington photograph collection [graphic].

Author

Washington, Fredi, 1903-1994.

Publication

1919-1953.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Miles, Bertrand, 1928-2005.
• Seymour, Maurice.
• Elcha, Eddie.
• Allen, James A.
• Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964.
• Georges, S.
• Bloom (Chicago, Ill.)

Found In

p1bc Washington, Fredi, 1903- Fredi Washington papers, 1922-1981 (CstRLIN)NYPW89-A224

Description

• 255 items (.6 lin. ft., 2 boxes); 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.
• 96 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w, some hand-col. ;
• 21 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ;
• 14 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ;
• 23 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ;
• 40 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w, some hand-col. ;
• 22 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ;
• 17 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ;
• 2 photomechanical prints : halftone, b&w ;
• 6 photographic postcards : b&w ;
• 4 photographic postcards : b&w ;
• 1 drawing;
• 1 negative : b&w ;

Summary

The Fredi Washington Photograph Collection depicts some aspects of her personal life and her career as a dancer, actress and activist, from the late 1910s to the 1950s.

Subjects

• Washington, Fredi, 1903-1994
• Powell, Isabel Washington, 1908-2007
• African Americans in the performing arts
• Nicholas Brothers
• Thomas, Edna
• Beavers, Louise, 1902-1962
• Hines, Earl, 1903-1983
• Moiret, Al
• Publicity photographs > 1920-1949
• Powell, Adam Clayton, Jr., 1908-1972
• Gelatin silver prints > 1910-1959
• Welch, Elisabeth
• Madeline Trio
• Pencil works > 1920-1929
• Photographic postcards > 1920-1949
• African American musicians
• Trevor, Claire, 1910-2000
• March, Fredric, 1897-1975
• Portrait photographs > 1910-1959
• Henderson, Fletcher, 1879-1952
• Negro Actors Guild of America
• African American dancers
• African American motion picture actors and actresses
• Moreland, Mantan
• Halftone photomechanical prints
• Norton and Margot (Dance team)
• Bryant, Willie
• African American actresses
• Lee, Canada
• African American actors
• Washington, Fredi, 1903-1994 > Performances > 1920-1949
• Film stills > 1930-1939
• Bell, Anthony H
• Group portraits > 1920-1959
• Whipper, Leigh R (Leigh Rollin), 1877-1975
• Brown, Lawrence, 1907-1988
• African American entertainers
• Hampton, Lionel
• Maynor, Dorothy
• Snapshots > 1920-1949
• Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
• Delany, Hubert T
• Theatrical productions > 1920-1949

Genre/Form

• Portrait photographs – 1910-1959.
• Group portraits – 1920-1959.
• Snapshots – 1920-1949.
• Photographic postcards – 1920-1949.
• Film stills – 1930-1939.
• Publicity photographs – 1920-1949.
• Gelatin silver prints – 1910-1959.
• Halftone photomechanical prints.
• Pencil works – 1920-1929.

Note

• Title devised by cataloger.
• Many photographs have photographer's or photographic studio's handstamp on verso; some items have photographer's or photographic studio's name either blind stamped, printed, or inscribed on recto; a small group of items bear photographer's proof handstamp on recto.
• Many photographs have handwritten notations on verso; many items bear inscriptions on recto; some items bear handwritten captions on recto; some items are duplicates.
• Collection contains work by Carl Van Vechten, James L. Allen, Maurice Seymour, Bloom, Bertrand Miles and Eddie Elcha, among others.

Terms of Use (note)

• Some items are restricted; permission of the photographer or copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography (note)

• Fredericka Carolyn Washington, dancer, actress and civil rights activist, was born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1903.

Linking Entry (note)

• Forms part of the Fredi Washington Papers, 1922-1981.

Call Number

Sc Photo Fredi Washington Collection

OCLC

NYPG98-F202

Author

Washington, Fredi, 1903-1994.

Title

Fredi Washington photograph collection [graphic].

Imprint

1919-1953.

Terms Of Use

Some items are restricted; permission of the photographer or copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography

Fredericka Carolyn Washington, dancer, actress and civil rights activist, was born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1903. After moving to New York, she began her acting and dance career, at age 16, as a cabaret performer and would establish her reputation as an actress and dancer in numerous plays and films, most notably the film "Imitation of Life" (1934). In the movie, her convincing performance as a young black woman passing for white led many African-Americans to accuse her of trying to pass in real life, while the film industry began to typecast her for tragic mulatto roles.

Resenting the stereotyping that may have shortened her acting career, Washington became politically active in the late 1930s, which included helping to found the Negro Actors Guild (1937) to eliminate stereotyping and open acting opportunities for African-American actors. From the mid-1940s to the early 1950s she returned to the stage and worked in radio and television. Washington was married twice: in 1933 to trombonist Lawrence Brown, and in 1952 to dentist Anthony H. Bell. Washington, who was also the sister of actress Isabel Washington, the first wife of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., died in Stamford, Conn., in 1994.

Linking Entry

Forms part of the Fredi Washington Papers, 1922-1981.

Local Note

Sc MG 184

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Added Author

Miles, Bertrand, 1928-2005. Photographer

Seymour, Maurice. Photographer

Elcha, Eddie. Photographer

Allen, James A. Photographer

Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964. Photographer

Georges, S. Photographer

Bloom (Chicago, Ill.)

Found In:

p1bc Washington, Fredi, 1903- Fredi Washington papers, 1922-1981 (CstRLIN)NYPW89-A224

Research Call Number

Sc Photo Fredi Washington Collection