California State University, NorthridgeCalifornia State University, Northridge
October 23, 1996
Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler,
(818) 677-2130
cchandler@exec.csun.edu
Dozens of people will be scouring over photographs on that day to help the university prepare for a major exhibition of Adams' work planned for this spring.
The brunch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in the University Club at the southeast corner of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.
The Adams Collection is one of the most significant collections of images of African-American social life in Los Angeles. The Center for Photojournalism and Visual History in the university's College of Arts, Media and Communication will exhibit his work at the California Afro-American Museum in March of 1997.
Adams began taking pictures in the mid-1950's and continued to work through the late 1980's. During this period he amassed a collection of nearly 500,000 negatives.
His work focused on the heart of Los Angeles' black community. Nearly every church, social organization, important personality and civic organization central to the community are chronicled in his work.
Among the images he captured were Martin Luther King, Jr.; Malcolm X; former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley; former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; attorney Johnny Cochran. There are images of musicians, athletes, preachers with their flocks, anniversaries, weddings and funerals.
For more information about the collection, call Faye Ainsworth at (818) 677-3320.