| Does a particular photograph tell a story other
than what is immediately visible to the viewer? Historians ask a
number of questions in order to understand the deeper meaning of
photographs. Images, they say, are versions of reality that photographers
interpret for intended audiences. Photographers use images to convey
messages to particular audiences. Photos reflect the perspective
of photographers and must therefore be viewed with a critical eye.
What images does a particular photo capture? What was the context
of the time in which the photo was taken? What audience did the
photographer have in mind and for what purpose? These are only a
few examples of questions historians ask in interpreting the meaning
of photographs. They are are historical documents, a valuable resource
to help reconstruct the past. The Columbia River Basin Ethnic History
Archive contains an extensive collection of photographs that document
the experience of blacks in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Students,
researchers, and others can use these photos to enhance their understanding
of the history of African Americans in the Columbia River Basin.
For ideas on how to evaluate these sources, click on the following
link and return to the questions below to consider.
N.A.A.C.P
honors Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee, ca. 1950.
What do you learn about African Americans in Portland from the
photograph “N.A.A.C.P. honors Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee?”
Is there anything in the photograph that indicates what audience
the photographer wanted to address? What message did the photographer
want to convey to the intended audience?
What do the images reveal about the photographer’s perspective
and the context of the time the photo was taken?
What do you learn about the roles of the N.A.A.C.P. and the people
in the photo in the history of Portland?
Is there anything in the photo that indicates why the N.A.A.C.P.
honored Mayor Lee?
Historians usually consult additional sources in order to interpret
the meaning of photographs. Are there questions that were not answered
in your evaluation of the image? If so, what other sources in the
Columbia River Basin Ethnic History Archive can you consult to answer
these questions satisfactorily?
Related Links:
Portland
N.A.A.C.P. staff meeting in the early fifties
Reception
for Julian Bond at Portland University, 1969
African
American Commemorative Quilt, 1976
|
