This year’s Photoville outdoor banner exhibition—hosted at St. Nicholas Park and Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem—takes a look at the photography of Morgan and Marvin Smith.
Identical twin brothers, Morgan and Marvin Smith actively documented Harlem during the mid-20th century. Born on February 16, 1910 in Nicholasville, KY, they moved to New York City to pursue careers in photography and attended artist development classes taught by renowned sculptor, Augusta Savage. They went on to own a landmark photography studio next to the Apollo Theater on 125th Street.
Of the thousands of photographs and prints by the Smith brothers in the Schomburg Center’s collections, this exhibition highlights a brief survey of sports snapshots from the 1930s–1950s. From American Negro League baseball team players sliding into home plate to collegiate star-athlete footballers dodging tackles across the field, these photographs document a pivotal era in American sports history.