Photographic print of J. C. Gordon and unidentified saxaphonist: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black and white photograph of J. C. Gordon and another unidentified man performing on saxophones in a bar. The saxophonist standing closest to the foreground bends forward and rests the saxophone on his proper right knee; sweat rolls down his face as he plays. The other saxophonist stands to the right of the first saxophonist in an upright position and plays with his eyes closed. A man and woman standing behind the bar watch the saxophonists as they play. There is an imprint of a palm tree in the bottom right corner of the border on the front of the photograph. The back of the photograph has an inscription, by hand, of the number: [1455.04] and a photographer's stamp.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: ca. 1950-1970
• Photograph by: Charles "Teenie" Harris, American, 1908 - 1998
• Subject of: J. C. Gordon
• Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men
• Subject of: Unidentified Woman or Women
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 16 × 19 7/8 in. (40.6 × 50.5 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 12 3/4 × 15 13/16 in. (32.4 × 40.2 cm)
• Place depicted: Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Black Press
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Music
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Photography
• Object number: 2014.302.21
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Charles A. Harris and Beatrice Harris in memory of Charles "Teenie" Harris
• 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: © Carnegie Museum of Art, Charles "Teenie" Harris Archive Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.