NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2008 Mar 20 @ 15:00UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT
The King Family. Archive of King family photographs, keepsakes and personal memorabilia from the homes of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s mother Alberta, and Woodie Brown, his aunt and the sister of "Daddy" King. A substantial, combined family accumulation of original photographs, various sizes and types, together with letters, documents, and ephemera, all from the possession of Alberta King and Woodie Brown, variously, spanning at least six decades of King family life.
In all, there are over 270 pieces, reflecting the lives and times of their immediate and extended families, including vacations, candids, home interiors, holidays, festive occasions and the Kings, and much more. The earliest dated item is 1939, the latest 1982.
Included are original family photographs of Martin Luther King, Jr., his wife Coretta Scott King, father Martin Luther King, Sr., mother Alberta King, aunt Woodie King, and many, many others.
All are nested loosely in an elaborately blind-embossed leather photo album, which came to be used by Mrs. Brown as a gathering place for family-related items. Its contents reflect a long timeline of King family history. 12 1/4 x 1 2 1/4 , ornately, even flamboyantly, gilt-stamped on cover, "...to Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Brown" [Martin Luther King, Jr.'s uncle and aunt]. This was not an inexpensive gift, and was evidently presented to her empty. None of the leaves show evidence of any pictures having been mounted: this gift comprised the empty, but inscribed binder, in which she housed these items.
When Alberta was killed in an Atlanta church, these items were sent to Woodie for safekeeping; she added items as the years passed. The paucity of photos of Martin, Jr. may be explained by the possibility that after his assassination, his mother went through family papers and separated most of his photos, either in grieving or to keep them together elsewhere.
Photos number approximately 219 small, 16 medium, and 7 large, and vary from candid snapshots, to Polaroids, to 8 x 10s taken by professional photographers, and a few elongated folding panoramic photos. Some are understandably of greater historical importance than others, however this is true of the photos of any family: here they reflect the continuum of life of the King family. With research, it seems reasonable that some can be further identified. Some, particularly King vacation photos in Cuba, Florida, Haiti, and Jamaica, are captioned, reliably concluded to be in Woodie Brown's characteristic hand. Among the many photos:
1939 photo of three well-dressed people in a park, Atlanta imprint, one believed Martin, Sr., posing with a woman and young man
Original, presumed unpublished, and highly flattering color photograph of Martin Luther King, Jr., one of a group of seven people elegantly dressed and posing in a living room. Seated in front of him on a sofa is his father, Daddy King; brother Albert, who also met an untimely end, may be at Martin's right
Large photo of group of African-American women including Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of National Council of Negro Women as of 1935 (and member of the Communist Party)
Trips to Florida, Havana, Haiti, and Jamaica (some marked 1956, others n.d. but of the period based on cars and fashion)
Black-and-white photo, "...Florence and Alberta [Martin, Jr.'s mother] on Spelman Campus"
Large original color photo of Coretta and Daddy King, with two others, an especially flattering view of Coretta, Daddy King seated in scarf, though indoors. "Visitor Pass / Georgia State Capitol" is legible on lapel of the other gentleman in the photo
Polaroids of Gov. Jerry Brown, Ester Rolle (three, one marked by Woodie "my special friend"), and Charlie McBride and Brock Peters (signed by both) with Woodie
Accompanying program for 1977 Governor's Prayer Breakfast, Sacramento, "Message (by) Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., Response, The Hon. Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Governor of California," boldly signed and inscribed by Brown to Woody (sic) Brown
Among ephemera, numbering some 24 pieces, plus 6 newspaper clippings:
Broadside, advertising appearance by Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. at Greater St. Peter's Zion Church in Detroit. N.d. but c. 1958. 11 x 15, nicely arranged, with two photo portraits
Original newspaper article clipped by Martin's mother, "Minister Is Jailed," apparently from a Montgomery, Ala. newspaper, c. Oct. 1960, showing Martin, Jr., "...sentenced to serve four months in jail." This Atlanta incident resulted in King's first-ever night spent in jail - followed by this four-month sentence
Old card with pink silk, "To Sister on Mother's Day" (almost certainly from Daddy King to Woodie)
Color "Memorial Sunday" poster for Martin, Jr., about 12 x 18, printed by "Black America," 1969, David C. Cook Publishing Co., the personal property of his mother and/or aunt; much worn at top right
Woodie Brown's personal invitation to Pres. Carter's Inaugural party, in envelope
A 1982 Manufacturers Bank collection notice for $184 mortgage payment due on her house. (It was through nonpayment of taxes that the house, with these contents, was abandoned by the family, all being sold at public auction.)
And more....
Long before Martin, Jr.'s ascendancy to fame, the King family seemed to enjoy considerable prosperity and leisure. Their travels, by air and cruise ship, sometimes as an extended family group, were the exception for any family in the 1950s and '60s. For many years, Woodie Brown was active in a Detroit group associated with NAACP, People's Community Services, whose activities are represented herein. She was also well known, and well connected, rubbing elbows with everyone from Hollywood personalities to Governors, and even Pres. Carter.
In all, over six pounds of album, photos, letters, and miscellany, numbering over 270 pieces. Album itself showing much handling by the King family; a small number of items in a collection this large understandably with minor defects, but contents generally very good and better.
In addition to its dual provenance, the contents constitute a previously undiscovered King family archive, and offer opportunity for display, research, and new discoveries. Even the King papers recently brokered by Sotheby's do not offer quite the same human interest that only original pictures such as these can convey. They capture the milieu, and indeed daily life events, surrounding Martin Luther King, Jr.'s family. (A family dog Bonnie, a poodle, is even shown on the "den couch, 1970.")
The accumulation is at first somewhat deceiving in its impact: even photos which at first glance appear to be of less-than-remarkable historical importance, such as Woodie on vacation, or her Christmas tree, grow on the beholder. Taken in all their variety, randomness, and years, they offer both a candid look at the most famous and influential family in modern African-American history, and a moving experience.
This archive of original photography and mementos incorporates the personal treasures of Martin's mother and aunt, the latter the last caretaker of these King family artifacts. Nothing like it is expected to emerge on the market again. Request detailed prospectus, no charge. Photocopies of about 50 items selected at random, $25 by postal mail only. Because of the quantity of items and their unpublished character, we regret no scans of this lot available.
Auction Location:
P.O. Drawer 821, Yonkers, New York, 10702, United States
Previewing Details:
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NY State buyers charged sales tax at their respective City/County rate.
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| NY |
8.38% |
NY State Sales Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
9,999.00 |
20% |
| 10,000.00 |
Infinite |
20% |
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ABOUT THIS AUCTION
The underlying auction in which you are bidding is Cohasco, Inc.s traditional mail-telephone auction.
Cohasco, Inc. has been in business for 62 years, originally in lower Manhattan, and presently in Yonkers, located on the New York City line.
We believe we are today the second oldest full-time autograph and manuscript dealer in North America.
You will be doing business with an old-fashioned firm. This is not a part-time hobby, nor are we newcomers. Over the years, we have handled major rarities and important collections, as well as more pedestrian material, and have sold to many of the preeminent government repositories, university libraries, and archives, as well as collectors and dealers around the world. We do not generally handle modern autographic material, as this can be prone to question.
Members of the firm enjoy life membership in the New-York Historical Society and U.A.C.C., and membership in the Manuscript Society for about forty years. Members of the firm are past or present members of the Rotary Club of New York. Our founder is a Knight-Commander of Malta, among other honors.
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(The printed catalogue which underlies this auction is 128 pages, and may be obtained by Priority Mail for 10.00 domestic, 15.00 international.)
ABOUT ILLUSTRATIONS OF LOTS
Of the more than six hundred lots in this auction - containing thousands of pieces, we have photographed about 75 interesting items. Many items do not lend themselves to photography. Others are large lots. And others still are formats which are familiar to collectors.
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