Conversations with Roy DeCarava: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A documentary film with the title Conversations with Roy DeCarava. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm polyester film with optical sound.

Through the use of DeCarava’s still photography and first-hand interviews with him and his closest friends and family, the documentary examines Roy DeCarava’s life and career as one of the most prominent photographers of the 20th century. Other notable individuals featured in the documentary include photographer Ansel Adams, photography critic A.D. Coleman, and then executive director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1984
• Directed by: Carroll Parrott Blue, American, 1943 - 2019
• Subject of: Roy DeCarava, American, 1919 - 2009
• Narrated by: Alex Haley, American, 1921 - 1992
• Subject of: Mary Schmidt Campbell, American, born 1947
• Owned by: D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
• Type: sound films
• Type: color films (visual works)
• Type: short subjects
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: polyester film
• Dimensions: Duration: 24 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 900 Feet
• Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place filmed: Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Documentary films
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Men
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Profile films
• Object number: 2017.55.62.1a
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.