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Sara Lynn Henry collection related to Elijah Pierce

 Collection
Identifier: A0050

Scope and Contents

The material includes about 70 slides of Pierce in his studio and barbershop, as well as images of his work. The slides were taken with an art historian's camera.

There are also four reels of audio recordings. One has an interview between Henry and Pierce, the next has notes that Henry made to herself about the visit. The other two were given along with the collection, but it is suspected they are both blank reels. The audio reels have been digitized.

Dates

  • 1974

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Access to sensitive materials may be restricted at the discretion of the American Folk Art Museum.

Conditions Governing Use

The Sara Henry collection related to Elijah Pierce is owned by the American Folk Art Museum. The collection is subject to all copyright laws, and is dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship.

Biographical Note

Elijah Pierce, the son of a former enslaved person, was born near Baldwyn, Mississippi, in 1892. Upon leaving his father's farm, Pierce apprenticed himself to a barber and, some time before 1920, received a license to preach from the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Baldwyn. After the death of his first wife, Pierce joined the Great Migration to the North, first working on railroad bridge gangs and then resuming work as a barber. In 1924 he moved to Columbus, Ohio, to be near his second wife's family. For nearly fifty years, Pierce worked as a barber and preached on weekends at county fairs, schools, and churches. In the late 1920s or early 1930s, he began to carve intricate bas-relief sculptures that illuminate biblical scenes and celebrate achievements of African American heroes such as Joe Louis and Marion Anderson. Pierce's The Book of Wood, thirty-three scenes from the life of Christ, depicts Jesus as a black man. In 1954, Pierce opened his own barbershop with a studio in the back room. Bolstered by recognition from both artists and museums in the early 1970s, Pierce began to carve full-time. His barbershop, transformed into the Elijah Pierce Art Gallery, received visitors from all over the world.

This collection was created by Sara Lynn Henry, PhD. Henry is an art historian, curator, and writer who knew of Elijah Pierce from having taught at Ohio State University for a year and a half. She visited his barbershop and studio, where she photographed and interviewed him in 1974, the year after he had won the International Prize in Folk Art.

Extent

1 file(s)

4 reel(s)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Sara Henry, 2017

Title
A Guide to the Sara Henry collection related to Elijah Pierce
Author
Mimi Lester
Date
June 2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the American Folk Art Museum Archives Repository

Contact:
47-29 32nd Place
Long Island City New York 11101 United States
(212) 595-9533