Meyersdale Public Library - Rural African Americans of the Allegheny Mountains

About This Collection

These 18 photographs are part of a larger Meyersdale Public Library Progressive Era image collection. The photographs selected for display as part of that larger PA Photos and Documents collection are significant because they provide a broad overview of life immediately before, during and after the Progressive Era in the Allegheny Mountains region (mostly Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and northern Maryland). These 18 photographs in particular - part of a larger glass negative collection housed within the library's archives - portray African American families and individuals in portraits, natural and workplace settings, and also within the town of Meyersdale itself. A significant African American community lived, worked and worshiped in Meyersdale during the late 1800s and through the first several decades of the 20th century.
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Barber
Barbers, African Americans
The African American barber in his white coat, grey slacks, and high collared white shirt, takes a break and leans on his barber chair. Behind him is a mirror, and displayed on the wall is an assortment of shaving cups. 4x 5 in. glass negative.
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Boy on bike in front of McCormick Harvesting
The Racket Store, McCormick Harvesting, Shipley's Hardware., Pfahler's Grocery, Stores, United States-Pennsylvania-Meyersdale, Hardware stores, Grocery stores, Bicycles, African Americans
A young boy wearing a hat and jacket is riding on his bike past McCormick Harvesting, where they had machines, buggies, wagons and harnesses. The Racket store was on the other side. Down the street was J.H. Pfahler’s grocery store, which sold flour and feed. On the side of the building was the word 'salt' in large letters. The street was paved with bricks. 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. glass negative.
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Boys at river's edge
Children, Rivers, African Americans
The one way to get a great view of the river is to stand on the very edge. These two African American boys took it further by standing on rocks just off the edge of the shore. 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. glass negative.
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Brick making plant
African Americans, Brick industry, Bricks
Workers at a brick making plant gather for a photo with tools of their trade; apparently family members were also included in the photo since there are very young children and a woman with an infant. Older children and adults sat on rows of steps above the younger children. The plant was a wooden building with three doorways and six windows in this facade. There are two African American men in the photo. The grass in front of the platform was mostly weeds and was overgrown; railroad tracks are at the base of the hill. Approximately 60 people were at the plant for this photo. 9 1/4 x 7 1/2 in. black and white photograph.
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Dog and two young girls
Dogs, Children, Houses, African Americans
The two story house is surrounded with a picket fence and has a brick sidewalk. In the yard, the dog seems to pose for a picture with the two African American girls. The taller girl is in a dark skirt and white long sleeved blouse. Her hair is parted in the middle, and pulled back below her ears. The younger girl has a knee length white dress with dark stockings. She has her hair parted in the middle and pulled back by her ears. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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Group of people in a field
Men, Women, Children, Houses, African Americans
On a grassy hill above the houses, 13 people got together for a photograph. On the viewer’s left, the lady in a light skirt and white top sits leaning in the grass. A child, two women in white dresses, and a dog, also sit in the grass. Standing in the back row, three women and a child wear all white dresses. One has her arms crossed and wears a flat circular hat. The other four women have dark skirts and white blouses. The lone man on the left has a dark suit, white shirt, and tie. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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Group photo with a dog
Women, Men, Children, Dogs, African Americans
The smallest girl in the group has her hands on her hips, and is holding an umbrella. To her right stands an older girl; they are both in white dresses and wearing hats. A young man in a suit and tie stands behind them. Sitting by a tall tree with a hat in her lap is a lady in a dark skirt and white top. A dog lies peacefully by her feet. A lady stands behind her resting her hands on her shoulders. The women on the viewer’s right are stretching their arms behind their heads. All are wearing white dresses or dark skirts and white tops. Most of the individuals in the photo are African American. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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Howard J. Pyle at railroad station
Pyle, Howard J., Railroad stations, Railroad cars, African Americans
Beside a railway car, four white males and one African American male, stand wearing double breasted, double buttoned train uniforms with rounded hats with bills. There are two African American males in white uniforms and white hats inside the rail car. One of the men in the group is Howard J. Pyle. 5 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. black and white photograph.
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Man and flowering bush
Men, African Americans
An African American man stands nestled in a large flowering bush. He is wearing dark slacks, and a white shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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Man with lady and baby
Men, Women, Infants, African Americans
In the meadow below the house, a lady in a beautiful white dress trimmed with black, holds a baby girl in a long white dress, and a ribbon in her hair. The lady holds her hand on her hip to help support the baby. A tall man in a long dark overcoat, white shirt, and tie stands beside her. He wears a bowler hat. All three are African American. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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Man with three children and two dogs
Children, Dogs, African Americans
Standing on a cement slab in the corner of the yard is a man or a boy with three children. The children are all dressed in jackets with hats pulled over their ears. There is a wooded area behind them, and a house can be seen to the viewer’s right. The four individuals pictured are African American. 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. glass negative.
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On the back steps
Women, Children, African Americans
A brick sidewalk runs along the porch steps where eight people stopped for a photograph. The child on the right has turned her face away from the camera. The lady sitting behind her is holding her shoulders. A young man sits next to her, and in front of him, the lady with buckled shoes and a white tie around her collar, sits with her hands in her lap. On her left, a lady in a grey dress sits with her hands folded also. The two ladies on the end have their chins resting on their hands. One is in a grey dress, and the other wears a dark skirt and white top. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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People in a meadow
Men, Women, Children, African Americans
White dresses were worn by a woman and four young girls for a photograph in the meadow. Standing behind were two gentlemen in dark suits, white shirts, and ties. Both men wore bowler hats. All individuals in the photo were African American, and houses were on the hill behind them. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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People on Center Street in Meyersdale, Pa.
Shipley's Hardware, Pfahler's Grocery, Stores, United States-Pennsylvania-Meyersdale, Hardware stores, Grocery stores, Bicycles, African Americans
An African American boy on a bike is on brick paved Center Street. He has passed J.H. Pfahler's store, where groceries, flour and feed are sold. On the left side of the street, men are gathered near J.T. Shipley's store. A wagon is in the street. 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. glass negative.
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Resting in a field of flowers
Women, Men, Children, African Americans
In a large field of flowers, people are posing for a photograph. In white dresses, four ladies are laying back in the grass and flowers. Sitting in the grass on the viewer’s right, are two ladies that are wearing light skirts and white blouses. Behind them, a lady in a dark skirt and white top is standing beside a young man in dark slacks, a white long sleeved shirt, and a tie. Very young girls in white dresses are standing in front of two ladies in white dresses. The woman next to them is wearing a dark skirt and white top. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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Ten family members
Men, Women, Children, African Americans
With a background of bushes, an elderly gentleman sits in a chair with the family members around him. To his right, a lady in a white dress sits in the grass. In the row behind, a man in a dark suit stands next to a lady in a white dress. Two men stand between her and another lady in white. A man in a suit, and a lady in a dark shirt and white top end the row. A young lady in a knee length white dress stands to the left of the seated gentleman. The family is African American. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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Two very young girls
Children, African Americans
Standing in the grass by a dirt road, a young girl in a white dress stands by a taller girl. The tall girl is wearing a light colored dress with buttons on the side, and a belt that buttons in the front. Both are African American. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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Women and children in front of the woods
Women, Children, African Americans
Possibly on an outing or a walk in the woods, this group of nine ladies, two young girls, and one young man stood or sat in the grass for this photograph. Four of the ladies and two young girls wore plain white dresses. The other ladies wore light colored skirts with white blouses. The young man wore a light colored suit, white shirt, and long tie. 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in. glass negative.
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