For nearly 70 years, documentary photographer Jim Alexander has captured the faces, marches, music halls, and quiet street corners that define Black life in Atlanta. Now, at 90 years old, his life’s work is being preserved for future generations. Emory University has taken steps to safeguard Alexander’s vast collection, ensuring that decades of Black art, activism, and culture will not be lost to time.
The move marks a major moment for Atlanta’s cultural history and for scholars seeking a fuller record of the city’s story.
A Lifetime Documenting Black Life in Atlanta
Alexander calls himself a “participant observer.”
That phrase explains his style. He did not stand apart from the communities he photographed. He lived among them, marched beside them, and taught within them.
Born in 1935, Alexander began documenting Black life during the civil rights era. His lens captured both famous figures and everyday residents.
Over the decades, he photographed:
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Civil rights marches and political campaigns
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Jazz musicians and local performers
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Community gatherings and neighborhood events
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Artists working inside Atlanta studios
His archive reflects Atlanta not only as a political capital of the South, but as a center of Black creativity and resilience.
His work spans nearly seven decades, making it one of the most complete visual records of Black Atlanta life.
How Maynard Jackson Changed His Path
Alexander’s move to Atlanta was not accidental.
While working on an assignment in Washington, D.C., he crossed paths with Maynard Jackson, who would soon become the first Black mayor of Atlanta and the first Black mayor of any major Southern city.
Jackson was known for his bold commitment to expanding Black political and economic power.
According to Alexander, Jackson approached him and told him directly that Atlanta needed him. It was not framed as a suggestion.
Jackson’s campaign emphasized support for the arts. Once elected in 1973, he created the Neighborhood Arts Center to highlight Black artistic expression across the city.
The center later became a model for publicly funded community arts programs.
Alexander eventually became the photographer in residence there, documenting the artists, exhibitions, and cultural events that shaped a generation.
The Neighborhood Arts Center and Its Lasting Impact
The Neighborhood Arts Center played a critical role during the 1970s.
It provided space and funding for Black artists at a time when mainstream institutions often excluded them.
Alexander’s photographs from that period capture:
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Painters at work in studio spaces
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Poets performing before live audiences
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Musicians rehearsing and experimenting
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Young artists learning their craft
Those images show more than art.
They reveal community building in action.
Atlanta in the 1970s was transforming rapidly. Political power was shifting. Black leadership was rising. Cultural pride was visible in murals, galleries, and performances.
Alexander’s camera recorded that shift in real time.
Today, those photographs serve as visual proof of how the city invested in its creative community.
Emory University’s Role in Preserving the Archive
Emory University has stepped in to preserve Alexander’s collection, recognizing its historical value.
Universities often house major archives because they provide climate control, cataloging systems, and digital access for researchers.
Preserving a photographic archive involves several steps:
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Cleaning and stabilizing physical prints and negatives
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Digitizing fragile materials
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Cataloging subjects, dates, and locations
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Creating research access for scholars and the public
Alexander’s archive is expected to support studies in:
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Civil rights history
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African American studies
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Urban development
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Arts and culture research
By placing the collection within an academic institution, Emory ensures that students and historians can access primary source material directly.
This preservation effort turns personal memory into public history.
Why This Archive Matters Now
Atlanta continues to grow at a rapid pace.
New buildings rise. Neighborhoods change. Communities shift.
Photographs like Alexander’s anchor the city to its past.
They remind residents that today’s cultural institutions were built through decades of effort by artists, activists, and educators.
At 90, Alexander is still curating exhibits from his work. He is currently organizing photographs that document the Neighborhood Arts Center and its artists.
His voice remains steady.
His memory remains sharp.
But time is inevitable. Archival preservation ensures that when living witnesses are gone, their stories remain visible.
Key Facts About Jim Alexander’s Career
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Years active | Nearly 70 years |
| Teaching career | Since 1968 |
| Yale involvement | Ran Black arts program in early 1970s |
| Atlanta arrival | Encouraged by Mayor Maynard Jackson |
| Role | Photographer in residence at Neighborhood Arts Center |
These milestones reflect not only personal achievement but also a broader shift in American cultural history.
Alexander’s journey connects northern academic spaces like Yale to Southern political transformation in Atlanta.
His archive bridges regions, generations, and movements.
A Living Witness to Black History
Alexander’s photographs show well known figures, but they also focus on ordinary people.
A child watching a parade.
A musician tuning an instrument.
A painter lost in thought.
Those moments often go undocumented.
Yet they define daily life.
That is the power of documentary photography. It freezes what might otherwise disappear.
Alexander did not just photograph history. He helped shape how history will be remembered.
As Emory works to preserve his collection, Atlanta gains something priceless. A visual memory bank of struggle, creativity, pride, and progress.
The preservation of Jim Alexander’s archive is more than an academic decision. It is a commitment to honoring Black life in all its complexity and beauty.
What do you think about preserving local history through photography? Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which Atlanta moments deserve to be remembered for the next generation.
