The Elease Perkins Collection consists of portraits of Elease Perkins; her friends and family members including the Davis, Hardnet and Perkins families; as well as snapshots (1920s-1930s) documenting outings and travels of family and friends. Collection contains a three-quarter length portrait of Perkins as well as snapshots of her with her husband, William Perkins. She is also depicted in a group portrait with other teachers at the Harlem Academy, New York City (ca. 1930s), as well as working in an office, possibly her employment agency in Queens, New York City. William Perkins is also depicted in a studio portrait with examples from his sign painting business; and in his real estate office with his secretary. Snapshots show members of the Perkins family, relatives and/or friends at Pelham Bay (1927; 1928), Coney Island and Rockaway Beach, New York City (1931); in Atlantic City, N.J. (1928), Atlanta, Ga. (1919), Miami, Lakeland, and Jacksonville, Fla., and in Detroit, Mich.. The collection includes three group portraits of school children from unidentified schools, including one in New York City (1927), possibly the Harlem Academy.
Biographical/historical: Born in 1904(?), Elease Perkins was a teacher at Harlem Academy and owned an employment agency in Queens, New York City. She married William Perkins who owned a sign painting business in Queens, New York City, and later a real estate business.
