About

20 square feet; photographic, manuscript, printed.
2,571 photographic prints, black & white and color
16,000 film negatives
2,161 black and white prints
410 color prints

Collection Description

Curtis Humphrey, a professional photographer, was born Decemeber 14, 1907, in Dirgin, Rusk County, Texas to John and Virginia Brown Humphrey. His formal education ended in the fifth grade, and he worked at odd jobs, including construction, railroads, department stores, and shoe stores, and by 1932 was located in Fort Worth, Texas. There he met Harry Garonzik and Harry Berkman, who introduced Humphrey to photography. Learning rapidly, he went into business for himself in Dallas and employed family members. Dewitt Humphrey, Curtis’ brother, later formed his own business and operated in Dallas through the 1970s.

Humphrey entered the U. S. Air Force in 1942, where he continued professional photography while stationed at McDill Field, Tampa, Florida. After discharge in 1945 he moved to Marshall, Texas, and taught photography at Wiley College. In 1947 he went to Tyler, Texas to teach photography to veterans and others at Texas College and also set up a studio.

In 1952 Humphrey was released from his teaching position because of his lack of high school, college or graduate education and returned to full-time commercial photography. He maintained a studio on North Grand Avenue in Tyler from 1948 until 1995 when age and illness forced him to quit. Allen Jones, Jr. was a partner in the business from 1972 to the mid-1980s. Curtis Humphrey died April 27, 1996.

Curtis Humphrey was married to Ester Mae Moreland; they had two daughters and three sons. An oral history with Humphrey and examples of his work appear in Portraits of Community: African American Photography in Texas (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1996).

The collection reflects Humphrey’s studio work in Tyler from 1950 to 1992. Negatives, mostly in the 4x5 sheet format and 120mm format, form the bulk of the collection. Prints are mostly black and white, with some color. It includes primarily portraiture and weddings.

Arrangement: prints arranged by subject and then by year; prints with matching negatives identified with unique number (alphanumeric). Negatives arranged by year; negatives with matching prints identified with unique numbers.

Copyright and permissions: Copyright retained by photographer. Prints for research and study only. Written permission to reproduce required from photographer.

Source: Curtis Humphrey

See Also: Oral History Collection