Charles Harris (photographer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles "Teenie" Harris
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| Born | July 2, 1908 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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| Died | June 12, 1998 (aged 89) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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| Occupation | Photographer |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth M. Butler (1927–circa 1933) Elsa Lee Elliott (1944–1997) |
| Children | Charles A. Harris
Ira Vann Harris (b. 1944) Lionel L. Harris (b. 1945) Crystal Harris (b. 1951) Cheryl A. Harris (b. 1954) |
| Parent(s) | William Franklin “Monk” Ella Mae “Olga” Taliaferro Harris |
Charles "Teenie" Harris (born July 2, 1908 – died June 12, 1998) was an American photographer. He was from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Teenie Harris was famous for taking pictures of people living in Pittsburgh. He also photographed many famous visitors, like musicians and baseball players. His photos often appeared in a newspaper called the Pittsburgh Courier. His amazing work is now kept at the Carnegie Museum. It shows what life was like in Pittsburgh's African American communities in the middle of the 1900s.
Contents
The Life of Teenie Harris
Early Life and Photography Career
Charles "Teenie" Harris was born in 1908 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. His parents owned hotels in a part of the city called the Hill District.
In the early 1930s, Teenie bought his first camera. He then opened his own photography studio. He also worked as a freelance photographer for a news magazine called Flash! in Washington, D.C..
From 1936 to 1975, Teenie Harris took pictures for the Pittsburgh Courier. This was one of America's oldest Black newspapers. He captured daily life in the Black neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.
"One Shot" Harris
People nicknamed Teenie Harris "One Shot." This was because he was so good at his job. He rarely needed people to pose for a picture more than once. He took over 80,000 photos during his career.
Famous Faces and Baseball Stars
Teenie Harris photographed many celebrities who visited Pittsburgh. These included famous singers and musicians like Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte, Erroll Garner, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Little Richard, and Ray Charles.
He also took pictures of legendary Negro league baseball players. These players were from teams like the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Teenie Harris even played baseball himself for the Crawfords when they were known as the Crawford Colored Giants.
Teenie Harris passed away in 1998.
Teenie Harris's Lasting Impact
Discovering His Work
For a long time, Teenie Harris's photographs were mostly known in Pittsburgh. But after he passed away, his work became famous around the world.
In 2001, the Carnegie Museum of Art bought his huge collection. It included 80,000 photo negatives. Since 2003, the museum has been scanning and organizing these images. Many of them are now available to see online.
Sharing the Stories in His Photos
The museum has worked hard to share Teenie's photos. They hold talks and special events. They have also had three special art shows about his work. The museum asks for help from the public to identify the people, places, and events in the pictures.
In 2012, the museum held a big show of his work. Then, in 2020, they opened a special permanent exhibit. It is called In Sharp Focus: Charles ‘Teenie’ Harris. This exhibit helps everyone learn about his amazing photographs.
