Harry Adams (photographer) facts for kids

Harry Holden Adams (born 1918, died 1985) was an amazing African-American photographer. He took many pictures for two important newspapers, the California Eagle and the Los Angeles Sentinel. His photos showed the everyday lives of people in the African American community in Los Angeles.

Early Life and Education

Harry Adams was born in Arkansas in 1918. His parents were Hunter and Robbie Lee Evans Adams. Later, his family moved to Santa Ana, California. There, they helped start a church called Johnson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Harry went to Santa Ana College. He studied music and political science there. While attending Whittier College, he worked as a janitor.

Military Service and Photography Training

During World War II, Harry Adams joined the United States Army. He served as a military police officer and became a sergeant. He left the Army in 1946.

After his military service, Harry moved to Los Angeles. He went to Moler Barber College. He also worked as a security guard for the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department. In 1950, he decided to study photography. He attended the California School of Photography and Graphic Design. He also went to the Fred Archer School of Photography. People called him "One Shot Harry" because he was very fast at taking pictures.

Later, Harry Adams left his job as a security guard. He opened his own barbershop and photography studio. He first opened it on Avalon Boulevard. In 1971, he moved his studio to South Central.

Personal Life

Harry Adams married Marjorie Harris in 1939. They had two children, a son born in 1939 and a daughter born in 1941. Harry and Marjorie later divorced. He married Lorraine Proctor in 1956. Harry Adams passed away in 1985 from a heart attack.

Photography Work

Harry Adams' photographs were known for being "worklike and of-the-moment." This means his pictures showed real life as it happened. They were not overly dramatic or staged.

His photos captured daily life in the African American community in Los Angeles. He also photographed many important people. These included Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and a young Tom Bradley. He even photographed former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Photo Collections

Today, you can find collections of Harry Adams' photographs in special places. His work is kept at Yale University and California State University, Northridge. These collections help people learn about his important work.