Burton (Alvan) Photograph Collection, 1940-1981, undated

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Summary

Title:
Alvan Burton Photograph Collection
Dates:
1940-1981, undated
Abstract:
This collection showcases the photographs of Alvan Robert Burton (1925-2009), a well-respected Black photographer, community advocate, youth mentor, and Air Force veteran. After serving in World War II, Burton opened a photography studio in the Central Avenue neighborhood of Los Angeles, where he documented the lives of those in his community, particularly the students of Thomas Jefferson High School. This expansive collection includes photographs and negatives from throughout Burton's career, as well as his personal family photographs.
Extent:
4 Linear Feet and 4 boxes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

Background

Scope and content:

The Alvan Burton photograph collection (1940-1981, undated) contains four boxes and four linear feet of over 1,000 photographs and nearly 200 negatives from the life and career of Alvan Burton, a Black photographer. The photographs are mostly black and white, but some are in color. Photos are undated but presumably span the length of Burton's career, plus his family photographs. This collection is arranged into four series: Personal Photographs and Documents; People and Portraits; Jefferson High School; and Negatives. The Jefferson High School series is divided into sub-series of "Athletics" and "Students". Burton's personal photographs include family photographs, travel photography from around the world, and pictures documenting his military service. In addition, Burton was heavily involved in his community, particularly Jefferson High School. There, he dedicated his time to mentoring the students and focused a large part of his career to increasing media exposure for Black teen athletes. As such, the majority of his photographs depict Jefferson High athletes and students. Finally, the collection also includes a number of portraits, both candid and posed, taken in Burton's studio and throughout his neighborhood and depicting the lives of those in his community.

Biographical / historical:

Alvan Robert Burton (1925-2009) was born in Louisiana and relocated with his family to Los Angeles in 1939. After serving in World War II, Burton became a professional photographer, operating his own studio in Los Angeles, where he documented the lives of the students of Thomas Jefferson High School, as well as the Central Avenue Business Association, local churches, society events, and civic organizations. Throughout his career, he mentored a number of young men and women, and played an instrumental role in increasing newspaper exposure for Black high school athletes. After retiring from photography, he became involved in the Los Angeles Unified School District, serving as an activist and advisor for the Interscholastic Athletics Association and the Parent Collaborative. He also maintained an active role in the Jefferson High School Alumni Association, as well as a number of community organizations, serving the neighborhood where he grew up and lived.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into four series

  1. Series I: Personal Photographs and Documents; April 4, 1941 - June 5, 1973; undated
  2. Series II: People and Portraits, undated
  3. Series III: Jefferson High School, August 1957, 1981; undated
  4. Sub-Series A: Students, August 1957; undated
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Allison Wall
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-05-01 21:13:20 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

Location of this collection:
University Library, 5th Flr (5039)
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, CA 90747, US
Contact:
(310) 243-3895
archives@csudh.edu
Website