A black and white photograph of a girl running down a sidewalk between two trees towards a smal…

Images(40)

A black and white photograph of a woman in choir robes behind an organ and drum set looking out…

A black and white photograph of a woman seated on a chair with her head facing the left while a…

A black and white photograph of a man being baptized with microphones hovering over the baptism…

A black and white photograph of a man playing the piano next to three girls in white choir robe…

A black and white photograph of a seated young woman in a patterned shirt in front of a palm tr…

A black and white photograph of a boy and a girl seated in a pew in front of an American flag.

A black and white photograph of a little boy seated on a piano bench in front of a piano holdin…

A black and white photograph of a young man being helped out of a baptismal font.

A black and white photograph of two girls holding a carved figure by their faces.

A black and white photograph of a young man in a patterned cap and garment in three-quarters vi…

A black and white photograph of a seated girl in a patterned garment holding a plastic doll.

A black and white photograph of children seated on a parade float with a painting of Dr. Martin…

A black and white photograph of a woman in a striped suit exiting a church.

A black and white photograph of a group of men standing around a table signing.

A black and white photograph of a young woman in a leopard print patterned garment in front of …

A black and white photograph of a girl with a metallic head wrap and an off-the-shoulder stripe…

A black and white photograph of a seated young woman in a swirl-patterned garment with her hand…

A black and white photograph of a corner of a church photographed from across the street, overl…

A black and white photograph of a seated girl with her head tilted to one side holding a sculpt…

A black and white photograph of the back of a little boy standing on a church pew looking at a …

A black and white photograph of a man holding a little girl in a white dress with a young boy p…

A black and white photograph of a young person sitting in a church pew playing a trumpet.

A black and white photograph of young women in white choir robes singing with two holding saxop…

A black and white photograph of three women donning their choir robes by a tree-lined road with…

A black and white photograph of a girl holding flowers and looking at a partially photographed …

A black and white photograph of a man in a dark suit, holding a fedora in one hand and a cane i…

A black and white photograph of a young woman being helped out of a baptismal font or pool by t…

A black and white photograph of a bus seat with a pocketbook sitting on top of a fan with the i…

A black and white photograph of a row of girls talking in a church pew.

A black and white photograph of gentlemen in suits standing around a table signing.

A black and white photograph of a mustached man in a striped shirt and baseball cap seated at a…

A black and white photograph of the back of a little boy standing on a church pew talking to a …

First African series

Artist Keith Cardwell (British, born 1946)

Date1995

Mediumgelatin silver prints

Dimensions11 × 11 inches to 16 x 22 inches (Image)
16 x 20 inches to 20 x 24 inches (Sheet)

MarkingsStamped on the front bottom right (.1-.7, .9-.20 & .22-.23): "KEITH CARDWELL"

Credit LineMuseum purchase.

Object number2000.6.1-.40

On View

Not on view

Copyright© First African by Keith Cardwell. The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextDuring his tenure in Savannah, Keith Cardwell worked on a multi-year photo essay about the First African Baptist Church demonstrating the warmth and community he found inside the place of worship. The Church purports to be the first black Baptist congregation in North America, officially organized in 1788, but derived from a community congregation formed in 1773 under the leadership of Reverend George Liele. The church is located on 23 Montgomery Street on Franklin Square and still holds services to this day. Cardwell studied art at Leeds and Goldsmith’s College in London and has worked as a freelance photographer since 1978. In 1995, he joined the Savannah College of Art and Design as a professor of photography and special projects photographer.

Subject MatterFirst African Baptist Church, 23 Montgomery Street, Savannah, Georgia

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