Negro Leagues photographic materials
Scope and Contents note
The collection documents the pictorial history of baseball's Negro Leagues before the integration of baseball. The materials date from 1880 to 1991 iwth the bulk of the materials dating from 1923 to 1948. The collection includes action, team, group, and individual player photographs. The collection consists of negatives, prints, and oversized materials. Of particular interest is the large colleciton of photographic materials from the Homestead Grays.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1923-1947
- 1880-1991, undated
Conditions Governing Access note
Materials are open without restrictions but viewing materials does require an appointment. Please contact the Giamatti Research Center, research@baseballhall.org, 607-547-0330.
Conditions Governing Use note
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum provides use copies of materials to facilitate private study, scholarship, and research. The Museum welcomes you to use materials in our collections that are in the public domain and to make fair use of copyrighted materials as defined by copyright law and with proper citation. Permission to publish materials must be obtained from: Giamatti Research Center, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, 25 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 13326 Phone: 607.547.0330 E-mail: research@baseballhall.org
Historical Note
The term Negro Leagues as it is used here does not refer to a specific entity or league, but to the entire period of time that encompasses segragated baseball. It includes teams formed in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and includes not just black players but any person of color who was not allowed to play in Major League Baseball.
In the late 1800s, players of color played baseball for military and industrial teams as well as independent black leagues. A handful of players, like Bud Fowler and Moses Fleetwood Walker would fight their way on to professional teams despite an 1867 ban. But "Jim Crow" laws and racism as well as a gentlemen's agreement in 1890 would force these players from these teams by the turn of the century.
In 1920, Rube Foster spearheaded the creation of an organized league structure, founding the Negro National League. Other leagues would quickly follow and, in the United States, the following leagues existed:
Negro National League, 1920-1931 Southern Negro League, 1920 Eastern Colored League, 1923-1928 Negro Southern League, 1926, 1932, 1945 American Negro League, 1929 East-West League, 1932 Negro National League, 1933-1948 Negro American League, 1937-1960
These leagues became a main form of enterprise and entertainment for the black community. Later, with the removal of the color barrier by Jackie Robinson, it served as a recruiting platform for many players of color to the Major Leagues. Unfortunately, this led to the decline of the Negro Leagues as many of their best players left for the Majors. The Negro National League would disband in 1949 and the Negro American League would fold in the early 1960s.
Sources:
Hogan, Lawrence B.; National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (2006) Shades of Glory: The Negro Leagues and the Story of American Baseball. Enfield: National Geographic Books.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, http://www.nlbm.com/
Extent
2.5 Linear feet (3 clamshell boxes)
0.78 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection documents the pictorial history of baseball's Negro Leagues before the integration of baseball. It primarily includes team, group, and general action photographs. Of particular interest is the large colleciton of photographic materials from the Homestead Grays.
Arrangement note
The materials in this collection are arranged alphabetically by subject.
Physical Location
PS 7
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift.
Appraisal
Due to the age of the collection, it is unknown if any materials were removed during accessioning or processing.
Accruals note
Accruals are expected.
Processing Information
Decisions regarding arrangement, description, and physical interventions for this collection prior to 2017 are unknown. In 2017, it was determined there was no known original order and the materials were resorted into the current organization (see arrangement note). At this time, materials were placed in new acid-free folders, sleeves, and boxes.
- Title
- Guide to the Negro Leagues photographic materials BA PHT 005
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Kelli Bogan
- Date
- July 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Archives Repository