- Directed by
- Blue, Carroll Parrott, American, 1943 - 2019
- Subject of
- DeCarava, Roy, American, 1919 - 2009
- Narrated by
- Haley, Alex, American, 1921 - 1992
- Subject of
- Schmidt Campbell, Mary, American, born 1947
- Owned by
- D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
- Date
- 1984
- Medium
- polyester film
- Dimensions
- Duration: 24 Minutes
- Length (Film): 900 Feet
- Caption
- Carroll Blue’s 1983 short documentary, Conversations with Roy DeCarava, gives a brief but salient overview of the life and career of 20th century photographer Roy DeCarava. DeCarava is known for his striking images of Black life in Harlem as well as his Jazz Photography, where he captured some of jazz’s most prominent figures like Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and Billie Holiday. DeCarava’s photographic images shown throughout the film highlight his extensive portfolio while also providing a visual history of Black life and culture.
- This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
- Description
- A documentary film with the title Conversations with Roy DeCarava. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm polyester film with optical sound.
- Through the use of DeCarava’s still photography and first-hand interviews with him and his closest friends and family, the documentary examines Roy DeCarava’s life and career as one of the most prominent photographers of the 20th century. Other notable individuals featured in the documentary include photographer Ansel Adams, photography critic A.D. Coleman, and then executive director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell.
- Place used
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Place filmed
- Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- DC Public Library Film Collection
- Classification
- Time-based Media - Moving Images
- Topic
- Documentary films
- Film
- Men
- Photography
- Profile films
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2017.55.62.1a
- Restrictions & Rights
- Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




