Pictures By Weems

Ritz Theatre and LaVilla Museum

Ellie Lee Weems was born in 1901 in McDonough, Georgia. He began his real career in 1922 in a studio on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta. then in 1929 he moved to Jacksonville, Florida to open his own photographic studio. In 1925 He married Willie Mae Morrison, a Public health nurse. Weems was one of the first photographers to colorize photographs by hand.

From 1930 to 1983 Weems was the it person in black society. Weems took pictures for weddings, funerals, awards ceremonies, entertainers, celebrities, family portraits, church groups, performing arts, business and commercial events. Now Weems archival collection, now considered one of the largest collections that work together to document an African American community. Many of his images show the Great Depression, World War II and the struggle to end racial integration. 

    There are many books that you could read about Ellie Lee Weems and other photographers, Such as Reflections in Black, By: Deborah Willis.