The collection consists of personal photographs from the Smith and Shivery families, notably sisters Emily, Lula and Melinda Smith and cousin Madeline Shivery, as well as depicting some of the individuals and activities from various schools and organizations, from the 1860s to the early 1980s. The collection consists mainly of studio, candid and group portraits of family members and relatives, friends, colleagues, young children, students, graduation classes, members of groups and fraternal organizations, and some personalities. Also depicted are views of family gatherings and travel, social events, presentations, classroom and other academic activities, organizational meetings, agricultural scenes, houses, and some athletic events.
The Smith-Shivery families series consists mainly of personal photographs of the three Smith sisters and their cousin, from the late 1800s to the early 1970s. Also depicted are personal photographs of other family members and relatives. The Smith-Shivery cousins, all teachers, are depicted both individually and collectively in studio portraits, as well as in candid views of family gatherings, social functions, conferences and travel. Views of their teaching activities are limited. Also included are studio portraits of Madeline's brother, dentist George R. Shivery, Sr., and some views of his dental offices (n.d.); studio portraits of past generations from the Smith, Shivery and Blaze families (ca. 1860s to 1900); and studio, candid and group portraits of some direct descendents of the Smith and Shivery cousins, and their relatives by marriage (ca. 1900 to 1980s). The series also includes a photo album of unidentified card photographs, possibly family members (ca. late 19th century); and a group of tintype portraits which include identified family members (ca. 1890s-1900s).
The general subjects series consists mainly of portraits of individuals and views of activities from assorted schools, school groups, and various professional, social, church and fraternal organizations, from the early 1900s to the 1970s. Included are a series of group portraits and classroom views from an unidentified Atlanta, Georgia, high school (ca. 1948); individual and group portraits of Morehouse College fraternity members, probably from the early 1900s; a series of head shots of Melinda Smith's pupils from the Broad Street (Savannah, Georgia) School (various dates between 1938 to 1954); and group portraits of individuals and candid views of activities from various March of Dimes chapters during the 1950s. Also included are studio and candid portraits of unidentified men, women and children (dated pre-1930s); various young children (ca. 1940s-1950s); and a few personalities, most notably writer/activist W.E.B. DuBois (n.d.) and child singer Toni Harper (ca. 1940s).
Statement of responsibility: Collection contains work by A.L. Adams Photo, Bruno of Hollywood, Cecil Layne, Charles W. Lowe, and Scurlock Studio, among others.
Biographical/historical: The Smiths and Shiverys were two branches of a middle class southern African-American family. The Smith sisters - Emily, Lula and Melinda - and their cousin, Madeline Shivery, were teachers during the early to mid-twentieth century. Lula and Melinda Smith and Madeline Shivery taught in Savannah, Georgia, where they were also community leaders. Emily Smith Mallard taught in Alabama until her retirement, after which she rejoined the others in the Savannah house that they had shared for more than 80 years.
Content: Forms part of: Shivery Family Papers, 1865-1974.
Physical Description
Extent: 864 items (1.5 cubic ft., 6 boxes)
Extent: 681 photographic prints :silver gelatin, b&w, some hand-col. ;35 x 28 cm. and smaller.
Extent: 50 photographic prints :col. ;13 x 9 cm. and smaller.
Extent: 41 cabinet cards :silver gelatin, b&w ;17 x 11 cm.
Extent: 19 cartes-de-visite :silver gelatin, b&w ;10 x 7 cm.
Extent: 24 tintypes ;9 x 6 cm. and smaller.
Extent: 4 albumen prints :b&w ;10 x 6 cm. and smaller.
Extent: 14 photographic postcards :silver gelatin, b&w ;14 x 9 cm.
Extent: 8 dye diffusion transfer prints :col., some b&w ;9 x 11 cm.
Extent: 9 photomechanical prints :b&w ;29 x 21cm. and smaller.
Extent: 2 photographic albums ;27 x 23 x 7 cm. and smaller.
Extent: 12 negatives :b&w, some col. ;9 x 6 cm. and smaller.
