Wreath and eternal flame laid in front of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s tomb at Southview Cemetery

Photograph by

Henry, Horace C., American, born 1948

Subject of

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., American, founded 1906

Printed by

Unidentified

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 cm)

Type

inkjet prints

Place depicted

Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America

Date

January 15, 1969; printed 2011

Caption

Dr. King was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and members of the Eta Lambda Graduate Chapter laid this wreath at his tomb to honor, to celebrate, to rejoice and remember the life of a King.

....And all of this happened ... "One Day In January". - HORACE C. HENRY-

Description

This black and white photograph were taken the day of the first commemorative event for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in 1969. The photograph shows the marble tomb, center, of King's original burial site at South-View Cemetery. The tomb reads [REV MARTIN LUTHER KING JR / 1929-1968 / "FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, / THANK GOD ALMIGHTY I'M FREE AT LAST."]

There is a space in front of the headstone that is filled with small pebbles and lined in stone. At the bottom of the photograph is a small ceremonial flame sitting on the rocks. Between the tomb and the flame, there is a wreath with a cursive signature [Alpha Phi Alpha / Eta Lambda Chapter]. The flowers are in the shape of the Alpha Phi Alpha greek letters. The wreath is leaning against the tomb with the the flowers and bottom half of the inscription visible.

The back of the photograph has a manufacturer's mark, and handwritten and printer's inscriptions.

Topic

African American

Civil rights

Fraternal organizations

Photography

Religion

United States--History--1961-1969

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Horace C. Henry

Object number

2011.94.44

Restrictions & Rights

© Horace Henry

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Portfolio/Series

One Day in January: A Collection of Images Taken at Dr. King’s First Memorial Service

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture