Auburn Avenue Research Library Digital Exhibits

Items

• Unidentified Girl in Formal Attire, undated
  Cabinet card studio portrait of an unidentified young African American girl dressed in formal attire, circa 1880s. The child wears a long, decorative dress with lace details and holds a small bouquet, posed before a painted studio backdrop. The photograph reflects the importance of portraiture and formal dress in documenting family pride, childhood, and social presentation within African American communities during the late nineteenth century.
• Sigma Gamma Rho, Debutante Ball, undated
  Photograph of a debutante presentation ceremony hosted by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, circa 1960. Young African American debutantes in formal gowns are seated in the foreground holding bouquets, while their escorts stand behind them in tuxedos and white gloves. The ceremony takes place before a large audience, reflecting the pageantry, mentorship, and community celebration associated with debutante traditions within African American social and civic organizations.
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Debs, 1964
  Group photograph of members of the Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority posing with debutantes during the 1964 Debutante Ball. The women are arranged on a decorated stage beneath a banner reading “Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Debs 1964,” dressed in formal evening gowns and gloves. Soror Evelyn Hood stands in the front row (left) beside a debutante and her mother. The image reflects the ceremonial elegance and mentorship traditions through which African American women’s organizations supported the presentation and development of young women.
• Ruby Blackburn, undated
  Studio portrait of Ruby Blackburn taken in the early 1930s. Blackburn stands beside a small table arranging flowers in a vase, wearing a fashionable dress with layered fabric and styled hair typical of the era. The staged studio backdrop and elegant pose highlight the grace, style, and self-presentation of African American women during the early twentieth century.
• Ruby Blackburn (2nd from left) and group on steps
  Group portrait of five African American women standing on the steps of a public building, photographed in 1955. From left to right are Mrs. Lula Cornelius, Mrs. Lillie Sanders, Mrs. John Taylor, Mrs. Mamie Render, and Ruby Blackburn. The women are dressed in fashionable coats, fur stoles, and heeled shoes, reflecting the style, dignity, and social presence of Black women in mid-twentieth-century community and civic life.
• Rosemary Braxton's High School Prom, c. 1950
  Photograph of Rosemary Braxton seated with her prom date at a decorated high school prom, circa 1950. Braxton wears a formal gown and tiara, seated at a table beneath a large parasol centerpiece while a band performs in the background. The image captures a moment of celebration and elegance among African American youth, reflecting the importance of school dances and social rituals in mid-twentieth-century Black community life.
• Miss Black Teenage America Contestants, undated
  Group portrait of contestants in the Miss Black Teenage America pageant, photographed by Harmon Perry in the 1970s. The young African American women stand together wearing pageant sashes and fashionable gowns, smiling during what appears to be a stage presentation. Their hairstyles and clothing reflect the beauty, confidence, and cultural expression of Black teenage women during the era of the Black Power and natural hair movements.
• Los Angeles Chapter, Links, Inc. 1970 Cotillionettes
  Group portrait of the 1970 Cotillionettes presented by the Los Angeles Chapter of Links, Inc., shown in a formal page from the 20th Annual Cotillion booklet. The young African American participants are dressed in white debutante gowns and gloves, seated and standing in a staged arrangement that reflects the elegance, discipline, and ceremonial traditions of cotillion culture. The event introduced twenty-six young women in a program celebrating refinement, education, and community leadership.
• Julia Bond & Dr. Horace Mann Bond, 1973
  Portrait of Julia Bond standing with Dr. Horace Mann Bond in formal evening attire, circa 1973. Julia Bond wears a long, elegant gown and headpiece, while Dr. Bond stands beside her in a tuxedo. The photograph captures a moment of formality and refinement within an African American family, reflecting traditions of celebration, presentation, and social distinction.
• Frances Lawrence with Group, 1954-55
  Group portrait of Frances Lawrence and several other African American women dressed in formal evening gowns during a mid-1950s social gathering associated with the National Conclave of Grady Graduate Nurses. The women are posed together on a stage in corsages and elegant attire, reflecting the sophistication and social traditions of professional Black women’s networks in the mid-twentieth century.
• Eta Sigma Debutante Ball, 1964, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, The Aurora, 1965
  Magazine article from The Aurora (February 1965) featuring photographs from the Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority’s 1964 debutante ball. The images show the crowning of the “Queen of the Debutantes,” Gwendolyn Ann Robinson, and other young African American women participating in the formal presentation ceremony.
• Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho, Debutante Ball, 1967
  Black-and-white photograph of young African American women seated in a long row wearing formal white gowns and holding bouquets during the Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority debutante ball, 1967. The debutantes sit before a large audience gathered in a balcony and main floor, highlighting the scale and significance of the formal presentation ceremony.
• Dr. Henry Butler, Jr. and group at Frank Sennes Moulin Rouge, Hollywood, CA
  Black-and-white photograph of a group of elegantly dressed African American women and companions gathered at Frank Sennes’ Moulin Rouge nightclub in Hollywood, California, 1957. The women wear formal evening gowns, fur stoles, and styled coiffures typical of mid-century fashion, reflecting the glamour and sophistication of African American social life during the 1950s.
• Dr. Henry and Mrs. Rheba Butler, Jr. and others
  Black-and-white photograph of Dr. Henry Butler Jr. and Mrs. Rheba Butler seated with a group of formally dressed guests at a social gathering or reception, 1962.
• Darrilyn Selena Butler at Age 20
  Color portrait photograph of Selena Sloan Butler's granddaughter Darrilyn Selena Butler at age 20, wearing a floral headpiece and smiling while looking off-camera, circa 1973.
• Christmas pageant, undated
  Black-and-white photograph of a group of young women in formal gowns posing on stage during a Christmas pageant, likely held in a church or community auditorium, circa mid-1950s. The stage is decorated with a holiday backdrop featuring stars, floral decorations, and a central candle display.
• Beta Epsilon Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Calendar Ball, The Aurora
  Magazine article from The Aurora featuring the Beta Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority’s 1965 “Calendar Girl” contest and annual Calendar Ball held in Columbia, South Carolina. The article includes a group photograph of the student contestants representing the months of the year and identifies Gail Olivia Cayruth as the 1965 Calendar Girl winner.
• Alpha-Bettes Fashion Show Flyer
  Hand-tinted flyer advertising a fashion show hosted by the Alpha Bettes and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to support the “Bonny’s Styles and Fashions” scholarship fund at Clark College, Atlanta, Georgia, 1960.
•  Debutante Ball- lady, father, and escort, undated
  Black-and-white photograph of a teenage girl being escorted by a teenage boy during a cotillion or debutante presentation while her father follows proudly behind them, circa mid-1960s.
• Antique Photographs: Alice, 1931 - in fur
  Sepia-toned studio portrait of a woman identified as Alice, taken in 1931. She has dark hair styled in soft waves and wears a dark blouse or dress. She is posed in a three-quarter profile, looking slightly to the side with a calm expression against a plain studio backdrop. (Wm. & Mary Jackson Collection).
• 10 ESSENTIAL ETIQUETTE & MANNERS RULES FOR LADIES
  Video discussing etiquette, manners, and sophistication
• The Real Reason Why We Are Tired and What To Do About It | Saundra Dalton-Smith | TEDxAtlanta
  Video discussing the importance of rest and the different types of rest
• Become A Good Ancestor: Ep010 Rest is Resistance with Tricia Hersey
  Video discussing rest as resistance
• Why Masculine Black Women Bully You for Being Soft
  Video montage showing images of soft Black women and discussing how to deal with bullying
• Black Women Aren't Allowed to Be Introverted!
  Video discussing the antagonism experienced by introverted Black women