- Photograph by
- Olson, Martha, American
- Subject of
- Holmes, Bertia Mae Irvin
- Holmes, Alva, American
- Holmes, Christine, American
- Date
- 1970
- Medium
- silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
- Dimensions
- H x W (Image): 9 7/8 × 8 in. (25.1 × 20.3 cm)
- H x W (Paper Frame Closed): 17 1/16 × 14 1/16 in. (43.3 × 35.7 cm)
- H x W (Paper Frame Open): 17 1/16 × 28 1/16 in. (43.3 × 71.3 cm)
- Caption
- Martha Olson graduated from Northwestern University with her B.A. in Art in 1969, and within a year, she was working more than 800 miles away as the girls’ physical education teacher at Marion High School in Columbia, Mississippi. It was the first year of integration in Mississippi public schools. During that time, Olson photographed local students, their relatives, and other residents of Marion County, which she later compiled into a series entitled, "Marion County Mississippi: 1970-1971."
- Description
- A black and white photograph of Bertia Mae Irvin Holmes with her daughters Alva, and Christine Holmes. Alva on the left and Christine is in the back while Bertia sits in a chair in the background. Alva wears a plaid dress and Christine wears a light colored dress and bonnet. Bertia sits in a row of folding chairs. Other rows are in front and behind Bertia's row. There are bleachers visible in the background. The photograph is mounted to a paper frame with clear photograph corners. [Martha Olson] is handwritten in ink on the interior frame below the photograph. On the back of the photograph are handwritten inscriptions identifying the subject, date, and photographer.
- Place depicted
- Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi, United States, North and Central America
- Portfolio/Series
- Marion County Mississippi: 1970-1971
- Classification
- Photographs and Still Images
- Type
- gelatin silver prints
- portraits
- Topic
- American South
- Children
- Communities
- Families
- Motherhood
- Photography
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Martha Olson
- Object number
- 2018.21.35
- Restrictions & Rights
- © Martha Olson
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




