Withers Gallery Mystery photos

Legendary photojournalist Dr. Ernest C. Withers was one of the most prolific photographers to document the lives of African Americans in Memphis. Now, the Withers Collection is asking for your help to identify the people, places and events in some of Dr. Withers’ work! Here’s how you can help:

1. 1. Enjoy the images below! Click or tap one to enlarge and view as a slideshow. They’re great!
  2. If you recognize a person, place, event… ANY detail, scroll on down to the form!
  3. Select the image number and/or caption in the pop-down menu
  4. Tell us what you know! Include your name and email so we can follow up if we have to. Phone number is even better!
  5. Click “Submit.”
  6. Refresh the page and start over if you see more than one photo you can help with!

Thanks for pitching in!

1 – Grown Folks

2 – Making music

3 – Graduation Day

4 – Fresh Watermelon

5 – Stellar performance

6 – Swimsuit

7 – Got my tickets!

8 – Harmonize!

9 – A boy and his dog.

10 – Newlyweds

11 – At the counter

12 – As well as BARGAIN COUNTERS!

13 – Wearing Stripes

14 – Protesting on Beale

15 – Ladies marching

16 – Don’t shop here

17 – Why buy segregation?

18 – Elect Hooks

19 – Coffin

20 – On strike

21 – Harlem House

22 – Tent

23 – Freedom and Protection

24 – Bahama trip

25 – Dry cleaning

26 – Outside the studio

27 – Volunteer headquarters

28 – Fayette County Training School

29 – NAACP group photo

30 – Four musicians

31 – Children with signs

32 – Two girls on the steps

33 – Harlem House worker

34 – Mourners at a funeral

35 – Boxes

36 – Airplane ride

37 – Injured man

38 – On strike

(Photos: © Dr. Ernest C. Withers, Sr. courtesy of the WITHERS FAMILY TRUST and thewitherscollection.com) — 39 – Covered wagon

(Photos: © Dr. Ernest C. Withers, Sr. courtesy of the WITHERS FAMILY TRUST and thewitherscollection.com) — 40 – Boy wearing sign

(Photos: © Dr. Ernest C. Withers, Sr. courtesy of the WITHERS FAMILY TRUST and thewitherscollection.com) — 41 – Tennessee voters

(Photos: © Dr. Ernest C. Withers, Sr. courtesy of the WITHERS FAMILY TRUST and thewitherscollection.com) — 42 – Voters’ project ladies

(Photos: © Dr. Ernest C. Withers, Sr. courtesy of the WITHERS FAMILY TRUST and thewitherscollection.com) — 43 – Date night

Which image? (Find caption below)

Do you know any names of people in this photo? Do you recognize the location? Or maybe you remember what the event or occasion was. Are you IN this photo? Whatever it is, tell us here!

What can you tell us about this photo? ANY AND ALL details can help!

What's your name?

In case we need more info, what's your email address?

In case we need to call, what's your phone number (optional):