Scurlock Studio. The Historic Photographs of Addison N. Scurlock. June 19 - August 29, 1976.

Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1976. Exhibition catalog. Photography at the Corcoran series. Only 2,500 copies printed. Fine in wraps, as issued, 20 pages, includes checklist of 121 photographs in the exhibition by the famous Black photographer of Washington, DC.  Summary:

The Historic Photographs of Addison N. Scurlock is an exhibition catalogue published by the Corcoran Gallery of Art to accompany its landmark retrospective of the premier African American photographer of Washington, D.C. Running from June 19 to August 29, 1976, the exhibition was uniquely timed with the American Bicentennial, celebrating Scurlock’s unprecedented visual record of Black life in the nation's capital. The 24-page publication features an introductory essay by Chief Curator Jane Livingston, a complete exhibition checklist of 121 photographs, and a detailed chronology of the artist's life.

Key Overview and Objectives

• Curatorial Recognition: The catalogue documents a major institutional milestone—elevating Scurlock’s extensive studio archive to fine-art status within a major museum setting. Curators utilized the publication to showcase how Scurlock captured the dignity, intellect, and complexity of a community largely ignored or stereotyped by mainstream media.

• Documenting the "Secret City": The publication highlights Scurlock’s unique position as the primary visual chronicler of Washington’s prosperous, self-contained Black community during decades of strict racial segregation, preserving the cultural and social history centered around the U Street corridor and Howard University.

Core Themes and Subject Matter

• The "Scurlock Look" in Portraiture: The text explores Scurlock's signature studio style, characterized by a meticulous use of lighting and posing that conferred an air of aristocratic elegance upon his sitters. The exhibition featured portraits of major national and local figures.

• Community and Social Pageantry: Beyond standard portraiture, the publication details Scurlock's mastery of large-scale banquet and panoramic event photography. The included works chronicle everyday elegance, community gatherings, weddings, cotillions, and university life, presenting a nuanced picture of a flourishing middle and upper-class Black society.

• Historic Moments: The catalogue references Scurlock’s role in documenting pivotal public moments, most notably his now-iconic photograph of Marian Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial after being barred from Constitution Hall.

Significance

The Historic Photographs of Addison N. Scurlock serves as a critical early text in the reclamation of African American photographic history. By institutionalizing the Scurlock Studio's output, the Corcoran Gallery created a bridge for future scholarship, laying the groundwork for the eventual acquisition and preservation of the massive Scurlock archive by the Smithsonian Institution.