Actress and singer Vanessa Williams, the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America, reading movie scripts in bed, 1987. Photograph by Vandell Cobb. Johnson Publishing Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
For this year’s Ask an Archivist Day, we’re going behind the scenes with the archivists working on the Johnson Publishing Company Archive.
The Johnson Publishing Company Archive, JPCA for short, is an essential record of American life in the 20th century. The company was pioneering in its representation of Black experiences, and the archive includes the company’s flagship publications like Ebony and Jet magazine, along with dozens of other titles for new audiences to explore. The archive contains nearly 5 million photographs, 5,000 magazines, 10,000 audio and visual recordings, and 200 business records spanning as far back as the early 1940s, leaving a rich legacy to inspire future generations.
The team behind this project has been working hard to catalog and archive this material to make it publicly accessible. Today archivists Donna Edgar, Jacob Wolf, Jehoiada Calvin, and Naja Morris give a rare peek into their heroic—but what can often be invisible—work.
What is your day like working as an archivist for the Johnson Publishing Company Archive?
Naja M.: Depending on what I’m working on, my day can be an easy day of processing/researching or a little stressful if I’m trying to reach a deadline. Most days are smooth sailing once I get into a groove of processing and rehousing materials.
Jacob W.: My typical day primarily consists of processing. Processing can include assessing the condition of photographs, housing different archival materials in different boxes and binders to best accommodate their long-term preservation, cataloging materials so they can be searched for and located, and a plethora of other tasks. I also may find myself discussing issues with coworkers in various working groups, attending meetings, or pursuing professional development. Since these all encompass a myriad of different tasks, every day looks different.
What's something in the JPC Archive that people wouldn't expect to find? What are some surprises or discoveries you’ve made working with the JPCA?
Naja M.: One thing I didn’t expect to find was how many regular people are in the archive. Some of the people who were photographed were just regular people that got reported on and had their picture taken. For instance, with Ebony Fashion Fair and Fashion Fair cosmetics, it was sometimes JPC’s office workers who tried out products and ended up in the magazines. Or people who had normal jobs like telephone operators or dog trainers. Everyone wasn’t a musician, athlete, or politician.
Jacob W.: Since the Johnson Publishing Company was founded in 1942, people may think that archival materials are only as old as 1942. However, I’ve seen materials dating back to the 19th century. One particular surprise that I came across was in the folder for Dinah Lee in the oversized photographs collection. Lee was a performer in the 1920s and 1930s based in the United States. Ebony covered her daughter's wedding in the 1950s, however, inside the folder are also a large number of personal photographs from her performance career. These photos likely date back to the 1920s.
One included her, her band, and a young Louis Armstrong. This may be the only photo of its kind and that’s pretty extraordinary. I always wondered how these photographs came into JPC’s possession, perhaps Lee sent them herself. There is correspondence from Lee in other series, however, the correspondence does not mention these photographs. Maybe this is a mystery that future researchers can solve! Also, there really is not a lot of information online about Dinah Lee, so it would be fascinating to see what someone may discover about her. These are the sorts of possibilities present in the archive.
Jehoida C.: While working with the color film slides created by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Moneta Sleet, Jr., I was moved emotionally when I found cartons upon cartons of images that Sleet took of his family. Oral histories from Sleet’s family, friends, and colleagues all emphasize how much Sleet valued being a father and how important his family life was to him. In his collection of film slides, there are photographs of his family on vacations, at weddings and proms, and much more. You can learn so much about his personal life and how meaningful spending time with family was for him through these images, which is another side to his photography work I wasn’t expecting to find.
Fashion designer Jerry Sahara fitting Walt Frazier in his new full-length fur coat, 1974. Photograph by Moneta Sleet, Jr. Johnson Publishing Company Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Entertainer Pearl Bailey performing as “Frankie” alongside dancer Carmen De Lavallade on the set of Carmen Jones, undated. Photograph by Howard Morehead. Johnson Publishing Company Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Filling station attendant pumping gas during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, undated. Photograph by William Lanier. Johnson Publishing Company Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Singer Chubby Checker and his brother, Tracy, entertaining family and friends. Photograph by G. Marshall Wilson. Johnson Publishing Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Outside of the trove of photographs, what other types of materials are in the JPCA?
Naja M.: From the Ebony Fashion Fair collection in addition to the photos of clothes, there are hand-drawn sketches with pieces of fabric attached to them that I find very cool. Being able to see the designer's version come to life is inspiring.
Jacob W.: JPCA also includes a large collection of magazines, audiovisual material, ephemera, documents, layouts, and artwork. Notably, the archive holds some business records for JPC. So, the archive documents the working practices and history of the company as well.
Why is the JPC Archive important to you and important to the world?
Jacob W.: The JPC Archive is the largest of its kind and that is pretty extraordinary. There is nothing else like it and within its contents is a treasure trove of history that is ready to be explored, disseminated, and engaged with. As an archivist, connecting people with the past in meaningful ways is what drives my work. There are so many folks who will greatly benefit from accessing this collection and use it for not only scholarly research, but also creative pursuits, family research, curiosity seeking, and other forms of engagement. Knowing that folks will be able to access these extremely unique materials and that it will fulfill them and others is why this archive is important to me and the world.
Donna E.: The JPCA is a unique pictorial archive of Black history and culture. As a young person, I was deeply influenced by Ebony, Jet, and Ebony Jr., which were the first magazines I encountered. These publications provided a vital platform for showcasing the richness of Black life, from everyday stories to significant events like the Civil Rights Movement. When driving down Michigan Avenue in Chicago, my parents would proudly point out the JPC building, a symbol of this important cultural institution. The JPC Archive is a crucial part of American history, visually documenting the cultural heritage of Black Americans. I am honored to be involved in preserving this legacy.
What are ways you hope the JPC Archive will be used and engaged with by the public and professionals?
Naja M.: I hope the public engages with the JPC Archive by exploring stories about themselves. There are so many photographs of people from all around the country, from big cities to small towns. I hope they find themselves or their families in the photos. For professionals, I hope the archive will answer that question that’s been bothering them for months. That it will help with their research endeavors.
Jacob W.: I am excited about the potential non-scholarly uses of the archive. Archives can be extremely useful to folks who are not in academia or researching to write articles and books. For example, folks can use the digitized photographs for their collages, zines, or other artworks. Furthermore, there is great potential for genealogical research within the collection. It is also simply fun to browse and explore. Making the collection accessible to these audiences is a major priority and these uses will hopefully be some of the results of making this archive accessible online.
Jehoiada C.: I hope that Black folks involved in community publishing and print culture will use the archive to learn about the legacies they’re continuing through their work. Beyond the photographs on their own, this archive has many stories to tell about Black print media that can directly benefit Black publishers today as they reflect on the histories they’re connected to.
What are some of the unknown (or little-known) responsibilities and considerations you face as an archivist?
Jacob W.: I think a lot of folks do not think about technology when they think of archival work, but everyday archivists work with technologies and need a high level of competency. For example, archivists may craft Python scripts to batch edit names within a database, format and modify spreadsheets to import lists of data about collections or work with APIs. Every day I work with the software ArchivesSpace to catalog collections, edit a spreadsheet application called Airtable to track progress and transfers, and engage with other digital tools to ensure that the collection is well managed.
Donna E.: One of the most challenging responsibilities of an archivist is determining the appropriate access level to sensitive or controversial materials. We must carefully balance the public's right to information with the privacy and rights of individuals or organizations. Additionally, it's crucial to collect and share information that may not align with our personal beliefs, ensuring that the public receives a well-rounded understanding of the historical context. These are just some of the considerations archivists face daily. Our work is essential for preserving history, promoting research, and ensuring that future generations have access to valuable information.
Jehoiada C.: Part of our responsibilities as archivists include writing and presenting about the collection to make folks in the general public aware about its contents, our work in preparing it for access, and its implications on the history of Black visual culture. These points of engagement connect us to those who will be using the archive in the future while we work on processing it for upcoming access.
What have you learned while working with the JPCA archivist team?
Naja M.: How important photojournalism is as a tool of history keeping. When I initially open a box or folder I don’t always have the opportunity to read the article the photos were featured in but, the photos really tell a story. One that is easy to follow and understand.
Jacob W.: I have learned a ton since I started working with the JPC Archive processing archivists. The team is extremely knowledgeable about archival best practices, Black history, and Chicago. Regarding Chicago, as someone who moved to the city for this position, it has been wonderful working with several folks who are from the area to learn about the city’s history, institutions, and the people who shaped it. Every week I learn something new and am grateful for it.
Donna E.: While working on the JPC Archive, I've learned a lot about the fascinating world of photo archives, conservation, African American print media, and Johnson publications. One of the most surprising discoveries I've learned is the number of magazines that were part of Johnson's publishing empire. While many people are familiar with iconic titles like Negro Digest, Ebony, Ebony Jr., and Jet, I was unaware of the lesser-known magazines such as Tan Confessions, Hue, Copper Romance, and Beauty Salon. Exploring these magazines for the first time has been quite an enlightening experience.
