Austin Hansen facts for kids

Austin Hansen was a talented Black American photographer. He was born in 1910 and lived until 1996. He became famous for taking pictures of everyday life in Harlem, a vibrant neighborhood in New York City.

Austin Hansen's Early Life

Austin Hansen was born in 1910. His birthplace was Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. He started taking photos when he was just 12 years old. The island's official photographer even helped him learn. Later, he joined the United States Navy. In the Navy, he worked as a photographer's helper.

In 1928, he moved to New York City. But it was hard for him to find a job. This was because of unfair attitudes at the time. Even with a great reference from a naval officer, he faced challenges. So, he worked as a dishwasher and an elevator operator. Sometimes, he also played the drums.

Austin Hansen's Photography Career

Austin Hansen got his first big chance with a special photo. He took a picture of a young Black woman singing. She was singing for Eleanor Roosevelt at a hotel. He sold this photo to the New York Amsterdam News for $2. This small start helped him a lot.

Eventually, he was able to become a full-time photographer. For sixty years, his photos showed life in Harlem. He took portraits in his own studio. He also worked for newspapers like The Chicago Defender. The Staten Island Advance also used his freelance photos.

Hansen captured many parts of community life. He photographed weddings and street scenes. He also took pictures of Harlem's buildings. He even photographed famous people. These included political leaders like Haile Selassie and Martin Luther King Jr.. He also photographed writers like Langston Hughes. And entertainers such as Count Basie and Eartha Kitt.

For many years, Hansen was the official photographer. He worked for the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. He also documented events at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. This church is in Morningside Heights. For the last five years of his life, he worked at the Photographic Center of Harlem. He was an artist-in-residence there.

Austin Hansen's Legacy

During his life, Hansen created a huge collection of photos. He took over 500,000 portraits of Black Americans. These included church leaders and political figures. He also photographed everyday working people. More than 50,000 of his images are now at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

A film was made about Austin Hansen. It was called Search for Hansen: A Photographer of Harlem. Justin Bryant directed this film.