After serving in World War II, John Glanton returned home to Minnesota and began taking his camera around the streets, parks, clubs, restaurants, and private homes of Minneapolis, capturing the sights and scenes of everyday life for African Americans in the city. The images--from intimate portraits to public gatherings--reveal a dynamic and diverse community at a time when the nation was entering the postwar boom but before the civil rights movement had taken root. Glanton's photos offer a rare look into the lives and lifestyles of families and individuals often left out of histories of Minnesota's past, showing people at work and play, young and old, happy and sad. The images highlight black-owned businesses of the day, the music and club scene, and weddings and other family occasions to depict the experiences of African American people as presented through the lens of an African American photographer.

Long forgotten in the garage of a family member, the photo negatives were recently rediscovered and digitized. A selection of 200 of the more than 800 images are featured here, along with commentary that further illuminates the lives and experiences of African Americans in postwar Minnesota.

Author: John Glanton
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press
Published: 10/01/2018
Pages: 160
Weight: 1.5lbs
Size: 10.00h x 8.20w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781681340944

About the Author
Glanton, John: - John F. Glanton (1923-2004) was a professional photographer in the Twin Cities who memorialized a variety of events, people, and moments in postwar Minnesota. Many of his photos appeared in the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder.