Sale 2536 | Lot 311

(AFRICAN AMERICANS--TOPEKA, KANSAS)
A set of approximately 50 informal staff portrait studies from the landmark Jayhawk Hotel.
Seemingly made during off hours or lunchtime breaks, this typology of portraits of African American staff from the midwestern hotel, now on the Register of Historic Places, has an intimate approach. Most depict male staff dressed in their neat uniforms, several with the Jayhawk insignia clearly visible, posing on what may be the roof or on the street, singly or in groups up to three. Also includes some figures dressed in suits and fine weekend wear posing in yards, two shots perhaps taken from the roof itself of the downtown cityscape, and an interior scene. Silver prints, the images measuring 4x2 3/8  inches (10.2x6 cm.), and the reverse, and slightly smaller, the sheets slightly larger, most with a printed decorative border, many with a numeric stamp and/or notation, in pencil, on verso. 1930s

[1,500/2,500]