TEENIE HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHER Image, Memory, History
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TEENIE HARRIS Image, Memory, History PHOTOGRAPHER CHERYL FINLEY, LAURENCE GLASCO, and JOE TROTTER with an introduction by Deborah Willis Teenie Harris, Photographer TEENIE HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHER Image, Memory, History CHERYL FINLEY, LAURENCE GLASCO, and JOE TROttER with an introduction by Deborah Willis with contributions by Louise Lippincott and Kerin Shellenbarger University of Pittsburgh Press published in cooperation with Carnegie Museum of Art iii Frontispiece: Unknown photographer, portrait of Charles "Teenie" Harris, holding camera and standing on sidewalk, c. 1938. 2001.35.2920. Published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15260 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Copyright © 2011, Carnegie Museum of Art Finley, Cheryl. Teenie Harris, photographer : an American story / Cheryl Finley, All rights reserved Laurence Glasco, Joe Trotter ; with an introduction by Deborah Willis ; with contributions by Louise Lippincott and Kerin Shellenbarger. Manufactured in the United States of America p. cm. Printed on acid-free paper Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-8229-6174-1 (pbk.) — ISBN 978-0-8229-4414-0 (cloth) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1. Harris, Teenie, 1908-1998—Criticism and interpretation. 2. African American art. 3. Harris, Teenie, 1908-1998. 4. Photographers—United States—Biography. 5. African American photographers —United States— Biography. I. Harris, Teenie, 1908-1998. II. Glasco, Laurence Admiral. III. Trotter, Joe William, 1945– IV. Title. TR140.H372F56 2011 770.89'96073—dc23 2011021271 iv CONTENTS Foreword vii Lynn Zelevansky Acknowledgments ix Louise Lippincott Introduction xi Deborah Willis An American Life, an American Story: Charles “Teenie” Harris and Images of Black Pittsburgh 1 Laurence Glasco Harris, History, and the Hill: Black Pittsburgh in the Twentieth Century 23 Joe W. Trotter The Practice of Everyday Life 39 Cheryl Finley Plates 69–170 Chronology of the Life of Teenie Harris 171 Kerin Shellenbarger About the Teenie Harris Archive 175 Louise Lippincott Notes 177 Selected Bibliography 185 Illustration Credits 192 v FOREWORD Lynn Zelevansky The Henry J. Heinz II Director, Carnegie Museum of Art At Carnegie Museum of Art, we are honored to present the most Teenie Harris, Photographer: An American Story opens at Car- ambitious retrospective exhibition of the work of Charles “Teenie” negie Museum of Art ten years after the critical moment of its ac- Harris to date. For approximately forty years, Harris worked for the quisition. It marks the culmination of a long effort to catalog and Pittsburgh Courier chronicling life in the city’s African American scan the bulk of the archive, over seventy-three thousand black- community. Photography often unites the utilitarian and the purely and-white negatives spanning the artist’s career. While our work artistic; Harris’s work demonstrates that fine photographic images is not yet done, it is possible for the first time to present the story are art, whatever the purpose behind their making. His best images of Harris’s achievement based on an overview of his entire body of are filled with the poetry of everyday life, creating an irreplaceable work. record of the existence of ordinary people. Even when depicting We are grateful to those whose generous support made this politicians, civil rights leaders, jazz musicians, athletes, and movie project possible. The National Endowment for the Humanities stars, he illuminated their humanity, making them approachable. provided a substantial implementation grant to support the exhi- Since 2001, our museum has been the repository of the Teenie bition’s book, national tour, and Web site. PNC Financial Services Harris Archive, which houses nearly eighty thousand of the photo- Group, Inc., and Richard King Mellon Foundation provided major journalist’s negatives. Harris’s stated wish that his work go to Car- support for the exhibition. The Heinz Endowments and the Virginia negie Museum of Art strongly influenced both the museum’s offer Kaufman Fund also contributed significant support for the exhibi- to acquire the archive and the Harris family’s decision to accept tion. Support for the exhibition soundtrack was provided by BNY that offer above all others. We take pride in the belief of Harris and Mellon. The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Fellows of Carnegie Mu- his family that Carnegie Museum of Art, given its resources and seum of Art, and the Beal Publication Fund also provided support. facilities, is the most suitable custodian to undertake the archive’s Louise Lippincott has put years of effort and intelligence into preservation and dissemination with integrity and professional- the care of the archive and the realization of this exhibition. Our ism. Over the past decade, we have done our best to justify that trust sincere thanks go to her, to Kerin Shellenbarger, the archivist on the through the painstaking care and study of Harris’s work. Teenie Harris project, and to everyone at the museum whose hard Carnegie Museum of Art’s curator of fine arts, Louise Lippin- work and creative energy brought this exhibition to fruition. Our cott, has fostered a powerful alliance between the museum and appreciation goes, as well, to the members of the Carnegie Museum Pittsburgh’s African American community to document Harris’s of Art Board of Directors and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh photographs. Today, the Teenie Harris Archive is unique not only Board of Trustees, whose ongoing dedication and support allow us for the extent, quality, and historical importance of its many im- to do work such as this. ages, but also because its records and interpretation are based on Finally, our deep appreciation goes to the members of Pitts- first-person accounts and accounts from African American publi- burgh’s African American community, those who sat on advisory cations such as the Pittsburgh Courier. committees, giving extended time and consideration to the treat- vii ment and interpretation of Harris’s work (including the founding and our nation’s heritage. We sincerely hope that our work meets Teenie Harris Archive Advisory Committee: Neil Barclay, Oliver W. with your satisfaction. Byrd, Dr. Laurence Glasco, Charles A. Harris, Gladys Maharam, This book is dedicated to Charles A. Harris, eldest son of William Strickland Jr., Dr. Nancy Washington, and Dr. Deborah Charles “Teenie” Harris, without whom the Teenie Harris Archive, Willis), and those who contributed their recollections to the ar- this exhibition, and this book could not have happened. chive, assuring the preservation of an important part of our city’s viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Louise Lippincott Curator of Fine Arts, Carnegie Museum of Art It has been my privilege to work with Teenie Harris’s wonderful McCallum, Jacqueline Tarry, and Lisa G. Corrin (reviewers). Last, images since 1996, when the first Harris photograph entered the the museum thanks the thousands of community members, too Carnegie Museum of Art collection. I met Mr. Harris soon after- many to name here, who have contributed their knowledge, memo- ward and briefly experienced first hand the magnetic personality ries, insights, and personal histories to the Teenie Harris Archive and great humanity that also distinguish his photographs. I learned records for the benefit of the archive’s present and future users. much from months of conversation with the artist, and even more Construction of the massive Teenie Harris Archive database from immersion in his images. The purpose of this book and the ac- and online collection required assistance from individuals, foun- companying exhibition and Web site is to preserve and continue to dations, nonprofit institutions, and government organizations. The share this great photographer’s achievement, his intimate portrait first acquisition of Harris vintage prints in 1996 was supported by of a unique community’s heart and soul. the gift of Milton and Nancy Washington; additional prints came in This massive project could not have been accomplished with- 1996 and 1997 as gifts from the artist and his estate. The 2001 land- out the assistance of many. Two advisory committees established mark purchase of the Harris negatives was made possible through the basic policies for management of the archive and development of Carnegie Museum of Art’s Heinz Family Fund. Planning, prototyp- the retrospective exhibition. Our deepest thanks go to the members ing, and pilot projects carried out from 2001 to 2003 were supported of the founding Teenie Harris Archive Advisory Committee: Neil by The Heinz Endowments, the Pittsburgh Foundation, and The Barclay, Oliver W. Byrd, Dr. Laurence Glasco, Charles A. Harris, H. Glenn Sample Jr., MD Memorial Fund through PNC Advisors Gladys Maharam, William Strickland Jr., Dr. Nancy Washington, Charitable Trust Committee. The results of this phase were shared and Dr. Deborah Willis; and to project consultants Paul Messier, with the public in the 2003 exhibition Documenting Our Past: The Elizabeth Shaw, Dr. Ralph Proctor, and John Brewer. In 2008, the Teenie Harris Archive Project in partnership with Carnegie Library museum turned to a group of educators and opinion makers for ad- of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh Department of History, vice on the content, themes, and goals of this retrospective: Dr. Lau- and the Trolley Station Oral History Center, Homewood. Further rence Glasco, Dr. Johnson Martin, Tony Norman, Dr. Ralph Proctor, Archive Project exhibitions were presented at the museum in Cecile Shellman, and Dr. Joe