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Coards Studio photographs and records

 Collection
Identifier: AMN 1086

Collection Overview

The collection consists of business records, correspondence, photographs, negatives, and personal material. Business records include handwritten contacts and notes pertaining to customers' requests, licenses, correspondence, receipts, and supplies.

The bulk of the collection is composed of photographs of African Americans, which include family, group, and individual portraits; events; architecture; snapshots; reprints; and negatives. Aside from general individual and group portraits, there are photographs depicting various occupations, fraternal organizations, and school functions. Events include dances, weddings, funerals, school events, and other community events. Represented in organizations are local church and religious groups, fraternal orders, and musical performers. A small portion of the photographs are scenes of various architecture and roadways in Charleston. The reprints and negatives span the range of subjects contained in the photographs.

In addition to business records and photographs, a portion of the collection contains personal material, notably photograph albums of the Coards family.

Dates

  • Creation: approximately 1930s-1990s

Creator

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright Notice

The nature of the Avery Research Center's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Avery Research Center claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Historical Note

The Coards Studio was a photography studio owned and operated by Joseph and Rachel Coards until the late 20th century. The studio was located at 78 Line Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Coards photographed African American families and individuals in the studio and various events and groups outside of the studio, such as graduations, weddings, and other ceremonies. The studio also produced hand-colored restorations and reprints of many families' photographs from Charleston and surrounding areas.

Extent

8.25 linear feet (17 archival boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Coards Studio was a photography studio owned and operated by Joseph and Rachel Coards in Charleston, South Carolina. Coards photographed African American families and individuals in the studio and various events and groups outside of the studio, such as graduations, weddings, and other ceremonies. The studio, located at 78 Line Street, closed in the late 20th century.

The collection contains business records, photographs, and personal material, including customer contacts, correspondence, individual, family, group, and event portraits and snapshots, and Coards family photograph albums. The bulk of the collection is composed of photographs of African Americans, which include family, group, and individual portraits; events; architecture; snapshots; reprints; and negatives. Aside from general individual and group portraits, there are photographs depicting various occupations, fraternal organizations, and school functions. Events include dances, weddings, funerals, school events, and other community events. Represented in organizations are local church and religious groups, fraternal orders, and musical performers. A small portion of the photographs are scenes of various architecture and roadways in Charleston. The reprints and negatives span the range of subjects contained in the photographs.

Collection Arrangement

1. Business-Related Materials, 1957-1990

2. Portraits and Snapshots, circa 1930s-1990s

2.1. Portraits and Snapshots, circa 1930s-1990s

2.2. Events, circa 1950s-1980s

2.3. Organizations, circa 1950s-1980s

2.4. Architectural and Scenic Photographs, circa 1950s-1980s

2.5. Reprints and Other Materials

2.6. Negatives

3. Personal, circa 1930s-1980s

Processing Information

Processed by Jessica Farrell and Amanda Ross, June 2010

Encoded by Jessica Farrell, June 2010

Edited by Amanda Ross, August 2010

Funding from the Council on Library and Information Resources supported the collection processing and encoding of this finding aid.

Geographic

Topical

Title
Inventory of the Coards Studio Photographs and Records, circa 1930s - 1990s AMN 1086
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Processed by: Jessica Farrell and Amanda Ross; machine-readable finding aid created by: Jessica Farrell
Description rules
Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English
Sponsor
Funding from the Council on Library and Information Resources supported the collection processing and encoding of this finding aid.

Repository Details

Part of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture Repository

Contact:
125 Bull Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424 United States
843-953-7608