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G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives

Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Donor:
Williams, Sydney Olmstead  Search this
Extent:
0.3 Cubic feet (2 vertical boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Place:
Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- 1940-1950
Hill District (Pittsburgh, Pa.) -- 1940-1950
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- 1940-1950
Date:
ca. 1941-1949.
Scope and Contents:
The collection contains one hundred seventy eight (178) film photonegatives by G. Dwoyid Olmstead in 4 x 5 in. sheet and cut film and 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 in. (#120) rollfilm sizes; the rollfilm negatives are cut apart into either individual frames or double image strips. Most of the photographs were taken in the early 1940s in the Hill District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and include pictures of the black citizens of the area in scenes of everyday life, children at play, interiors and exteriors of houses, etc. Olmstead told his friends that 'he felt it was important to capture on camera the living conditions of the residents there. There are also pictures of a Labor Day parade by striking members of the Westinghouse U.E.R.M.W.A. union, of the AFL/CIO) and related subjects. Marks on the original envelopes seem to indicate that some pictures in the group were taken in Los Angeles (AL.A.@). Many of the negatives are stained blue, and are identified as "blue" on the Container List. All the negatives seem to be on safety film, with "safety" imprints on the sheet film negatives.

The original negatives are supplemented with a set of "non-vintage" enlargements and contact prints, made primarily by the Smithsonian Office of Printing and Photographic Services.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged by subject.
Biographical / Historical:
Olmstead was an African-American photographer who worked in the Hill District ghetto area of Pittsburgh, Pa. in the early 1940s. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, in March 1914 (he did not include the day in his Rosenwald fellowship application). He was self-taught as a photographer, but later, with the support of Roy Stryker, attended the Art Center School. He received a Rosenwald fellowship in 1946. Olmstead was inspired by Life Magazine photojournalist Gordon Parks. He photographed until the 1960s while working for the Department of Water and Power in Los Angeles. He died August 17, 1985, following a long illness.
Provenance:
This collection was donated by Sydney Olmstead Williams, December 5, 1986.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research use.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
African American photographers  Search this
Clergy -- Protestant -- 1940-1950  Search this
Strikes and lockouts -- 1940-1950 -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsurgh  Search this
Labor and laboring classes -- 1940-1950 -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this
Labor Day -- 1940-1950 -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs -- Black-and-white negatives -- Acetate film -- 1940-1950
Citation:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives, circa 1941-1949, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0270
See more items in:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep857355496-885c-47d7-a7cf-2ddb59446a81
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0270
Online Media:

[Two men at restaurant counter, one wearing "picket" sign in hat, photonegative]

Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Donor:
Williams, Sydney Olmstead  Search this
Collection Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Collection Donor:
Williams, Sydney Olmstead  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver gelatin on film., 4.0" x 5.0")
Container:
Box 1, Item image 154
Culture:
African Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
March 1946
Scope and Contents:
Part of Labor Day series.
Local Numbers:
AC0270-0000154 (AC scan)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Picketing  Search this
Labor Day  Search this
Strikes and lockouts  Search this
Labor unions  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs -- 1940-1950 -- Black-and-white negatives -- Acetate film
Collection Citation:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives, circa 1941-1949, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives / Series 1: Photonegatives / 1.6: Labor Day series: involving strike by UE CIO / Two men at restaurant counter, one wearing "picket" sign in hat
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep83fa34809-9c6f-4b30-9e5a-fb702c37ccff
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0270-ref727

[Labor Day parade or strike, photonegative]

Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Collection Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Collection Donor:
Williams, Sydney Olmstead  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver gelatin on film., 4.0" x 5.0")
Container:
Box 1, Item image 155
Culture:
African Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
Circa 1946
Scope and Contents:
Part of Labor Day series.
Local Numbers:
AC0270-0000155 (AC scan)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Labor Day  Search this
Strikes and lockouts  Search this
Labor unions  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs -- 1940-1950 -- Black-and-white negatives -- Acetate film
Collection Citation:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives, circa 1941-1949, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives / Series 1: Photonegatives / 1.6: Labor Day series: involving strike by UE CIO / Labor Day parade
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep84d5aff08-9e93-47d2-977f-4486cc8ede0c
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0270-ref728

[Group of men and two policemen on street : photonegative.]

Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Donor:
Williams, Sydney Olmstead  Search this
Collection Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Collection Donor:
Williams, Sydney Olmstead  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver gelatin on film., 4.0" x 5.0")
Container:
Box 1, Item image 161
Culture:
African Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
Circa 1946
Scope and Contents:
Part of Labor Day series.
Local Numbers:
AC0270-0000161 (AC scan)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Police  Search this
Labor Day  Search this
Strikes and lockouts  Search this
Labor unions  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs -- 1940-1950 -- Black-and-white negatives -- Acetate film
Collection Citation:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives, circa 1941-1949, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives / Series 1: Photonegatives / 1.6: Labor Day series: involving strike by UE CIO / Group of men and two soldiers
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8337eb92f-3aad-4725-a67c-009614a15af8
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0270-ref729

[Large crowd in street, Pittsburgh : photonegative.]

Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Donor:
Williams, Sydney Olmstead  Search this
Collection Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Collection Donor:
Williams, Sydney Olmstead  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver gelatin on film., 4.0" x 5.0")
Container:
Box 1, Item image 163
Culture:
African Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Place:
Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- 1940-1950
Date:
Circa 1946
Scope and Contents:
Part of Labor Day series.
Local Numbers:
AC0270-0000163 (AC scan)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Crowds -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this
Labor Day  Search this
Strikes and lockouts  Search this
Labor unions  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs -- 1940-1950 -- Black-and-white negatives -- Acetate film
Collection Citation:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives, circa 1941-1949, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives / Series 1: Photonegatives / 1.6: Labor Day series: involving strike by UE CIO / Large crowd scene
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep833c8a11c-8d25-42f5-aaa2-b1c0172b714d
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0270-ref730

[Aerial view of parade, photonegative.]

Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Collection Photographer:
Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid), 1914-1985  Search this
Collection Donor:
Williams, Sydney Olmstead  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver gelatin on film., 4.9" x 4.0")
Container:
Box 1, Item image 165
Culture:
African Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
Circa 1946
Scope and Contents:
Part of Labor Day series.
Local Numbers:
AC0270-0000165 (AC scan)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Labor Day  Search this
Strikes and lockouts  Search this
Labor unions  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs -- 1940-1950 -- Black-and-white negatives -- Acetate film
Collection Citation:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives, circa 1941-1949, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives
G. Dwoyid Olmstead Photonegatives / Series 1: Photonegatives / 1.6: Labor Day series: involving strike by UE CIO / Aerial view of parade
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep86a11d702-a37b-4520-8625-6e8d27667c60
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0270-ref731

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  • Olmstead, G. Dwoyid (Gilbert Dwoyid)
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  • Williams, Sydney Olmstead
  • 1940s
  • Archives Center, National Museum of American History