The Prom Queen is crowned during Manual High School’s 1961 prom. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/WH1128)
five points; historic; denver public library; dpl; archive; archival; denverite
Members of a teenage jazz band stand on a stage at a dance in Denver, Colorado. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-134)
At Denverite we've been privileged to be allowed by the Denver Public Library to dive into their Western History Collection, a massive archive of Denver and Colorado history with photographs stretching back as far as the mid 1800s. But in delving into the library's collections one cannot help but notice a lack of diversity in older images.
A group of men and women revelers gather at a bar on New Years Eve in Denver, Colorado. Circa 1965. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-199)
Thank goodness for Burnis "Mac" McCloud, a prolific documentarian of African-American life in Denver whose work spans an impressive 40+ years. DPL researcher Randel Metz says in a blog post that McCloud's work "stands alone" in its complete documentation of this community and time.
Men, women and children stand near a building during the dedication of the George Washington Carver Day Nursery. Burnis McCloud stands by a camera near the group. 1966. (Clarence F. Holmes/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/X-22345)
Photography is an inherently biased medium. Each frame is literally the perspective of the person behind the camera. This makes it all the more crucial that a member of a community is able to document it from within. Not only does McCloud's work represent an era that was otherwise missed by cameras, his canon goes deeper, presenting a perspective that could only be captured by a deep intimacy.
A group of girls and women in Girl Scout uniforms stand in formation to receive badges. A woman in a dress uniform pins a badge reading: "Be Prepared" on a young girl's sash. Between 1940 and 1950. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-160)
According to Metz, McCloud was introduced to photography at 10 years old when he found camera pieces in a junkyard. The owner of a local camera shop said he would teach the boy to use the camera if he could put it together.
McCloud moved to Denver in 1930 and worked in the State Capitol building, a position that gave him access to a number of high profile subjects like Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman.
Two women and a man look at a file in a paneled room in Denver, Colorado. A sign reading: "Owl Club" leans on a window in the distance. Between 1955 and 1965. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-218)
But McCloud's work is most interesting in its day-to-day depictions of life, ranging from Manual High School proms to jazz-era nightlife.
The Prom Queen is crowned during Manual High School's 1961 prom. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/WH1128)
The Western History Collection possesses around 100,000 negatives from McCloud's body of work, 3,500 prints and at least one box of "audio-visual materials."
Metz says about 60 percent of McCloud's work has descriptors attached and asks that if you see someone in the collection that you know, to please fill them in.
Two men stand inside a Duckwall variety store. Sunglasses, tricycles, handbags, irons and lamps are all for sale. Between 1950 and 1970. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-92)
A couple talks in a large, opulent room in an unknown location, Denver, Colorado. Between 1950 and 1960. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-166)
A group of men and women, members of the Kings and Queens Social Club, pretend to be drunk at a park in the mountains near Denver, Colorado. Between 1955 and 1965. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-183)
View of a Links Club function. A family sits in a theater in Denver, Colorado. Between 1950 and 1960. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-185)
A couple sits in chairs in a large opulent room in an unknown location in Denver, Colorado. Between 1950 and 1960. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-165)
View of a Gay Dutchess club function. Between 1950 and 1960. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-151)
Night view of Harry Hoffman's Cut Price Liquor store at Curtis and 18th (Eighteenth) Streets in Denver, Colorado. Between 1950 and 1960. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-3)
View of an Altruistic Club function. A group of women wear white formal dresses and pose in front of a stage in Denver, Colorado. The women may be attending a party or dance at the Disabled American Veterans hall. Circa 1955. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-94)
View of an Owlettes Club function. A group of women sit at a table in a dining room. Between 1950 and 1960. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-202)
View of a Links Club function. Men and women gather for tea in the living room of a house in Denver. Between 1940 and 1950. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-189)
Two couples, members of the La Lampions Club, sit at a table in a dance hall in Denver, Colorado. Between 1950 and 1960. (Burnis McCloud/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/MCD-184)
Kevin is a multimedia artist who flung himself into the world of journalism. He likes using a camera and microphone to tell stories about workers, the environment, social justice and fascinating humans.
