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Harmon Perry Collection

 Collection
Identifier: aarl-96-006

Scope and Contents

The Harmon Perry Collection consists of images taken by photographer Harmon Perry, who worked for the Atlanta Daily World and as a reporter of the Atlanta Journal. The photographs in this collection are of Atlanta social life, politicians, educators and everyday snapshots of people in Atlanta from the 1960s to the 1980s.

This collection will benefit researchers of Atlanta black life during the late 20th century, these photographs serve as a history of predominately black neighborhoods such as Sweet Auburn and Reynoldstown.

Dates

  • Majority of material found within 1900 - 1993

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is available for use only at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. There are no restrictions on research use of the collection, but permission must be obtained for reproduction of materials for which the Research Library does not hold copyright to research only for "Fair Use" as defined in the copright law (Title 17, United States Code). Also permission must be obtained to publish reproductions from materials for which the Research Library does hold copyright for one time use only.

Biographical / Historical

Harmon Griggs Perry was born a "Grady Baby" in Atlanta on July 26, 1923 at the Grady Colored Clinic. Perry served for four years in the service during the World War II, after serving Perry started learning about photography from other photographers, books, an trial and error. Perry first started working for the Atlanta Daily World after he sold his first picture to Scott of the Atlanta Daily World for ten dollars.

In 1968, Perry was hired as the first black reporter of the Atlanta Journal where he worked until he became the Atlanta Bureau Chief of JET magazine. Perry's first assignment at the Atlanta Journal was covering the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Perry was married three times and had two daughters, Phyllis and Phillippa. Perry is quoted as saying "I think the hold made me be a journalist. It's my life"

Perry passed away on November 23, 2003 of heart failure at Roswell Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Extent

5 Linear Feet

Language

English