African American history in Atlanta is documented in the Kenan Research Center’s strong collections of civic and political leaders, photojournalists, and oral history resources. The Research Center features the professional papers of mid-20th century business, civic, and political leaders, including Austin T. Walden, Grace Towns Hamilton, Henry Rucker, and Walter Aiken. The Research Center also features a robust collection of photography that documents the African American experience in Atlanta from the 19th century onward. Of particular interest is the photography of Atlanta photojournalist Boyd Lewis, which documents the rise of Atlanta’s African American political class in the 1970s. The Research Center’s collection of oral history interviews offers the perspectives of African Americans on segregation and racial justice, neighborhood development, employment, sports, academia, and the law.
For more information about our archival collections, please call 404.814.4040 or email reference@atlantahistorycenter.com.
Ready, set, search!
Dig into the African American history collections.
Professional Papers and Organizational Records
Long, Rucker, Aiken Family Papers
Atlanta Lung Association Records
Austin T. Walden Papers
Grace Towns Hamilton Papers
Photography Collections
African American Visual Arts Collection
Long, Rucker, Aiken Family Photographs and Lithographs
Oral History Collections
Living Atlanta Oral History Recordings
