Polk, official photographer of Tuskeegee Institute with his large format view camera , at his home studio.
Prentice Herman Polk was born on November 25, 1898, in Bessemer, Alabama, one of four children of Jacob Prentice Polk and Christine Romelia Ward. After his father's death, he adopted his father's given name and became Prentice Herman Polk, known as P. H. In 1916, he enrolled at the Tuskegee Institute intending to become a painter. His plans changed when he heard photographer C. M. Battey—who headed up Tuskegee's Photography Department from 1916 to 1927—talk about the potential of that field and encourage interested students to come see him. After speaking with Battey, Polk went on to study photography with him by correspondence. In 1924, Polk moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he furthered his studies with a white photographer, Fred A. Jensen.[4] Polk married Margaret Blanche Thompson in Chicago in 1926; they had a son. Polk returned to Tuskegee in 1927 to open his own studio in his home in the town. His mentor Battey died that same year, and the following year Polk joined the school's faculty. In 1933, he took over as head of the Photography Department, remaining in that capacity until 1938. He left for a year in an attempt to open a branch of his photography studio in Atlanta, GA, before returning to Tuskegee to serve as the college's official photographer for four decades.[5] He documented famous visitors such as Paul Robeson and Langston Hughes and events such as the Civil Rights Movement on campus. At the same time, he continued to run his own studio in town. Shot in black and white, Polk's subjects ranged from famous African Americans such as George Washington Carver to working-class and poor Alabamians. One series, "Old Characters", focused on documenting ex-slaves from Macon County. Like Battey, Polk strove to portray his sitters with dignity and sensitivity. Unlike Battey—who preferred soft-focus shots and idealizing poses—Polk developed a style in which sharp details and strong lighting showcased his subjects' individuality.
Size: 3624px × 5438px
Location: Tuskeegee, Alabama
Photo credit: © American Photo Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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