Kenneth Rogers photographs

Collection

Collection number: ahc.VIS82

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of images Rogers took as head of the Photography Department and as Director of Magazine Photography at the Atlanta Constitution and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1930 to 1972. Also included are the original negatives of other staff photographers and copy negatives which Rogers collected. The collection documents a wide variety of personalities, events, and geographic locations in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. All locations are in Atlanta unless otherwise noted. Early photographs consist of 4x5 glass plate negatives, but most of the material is captured on acetate film and color transparencies. Quotation marks in the inventory are used to note Roger's original language.

Dates

1864-1975, undated (bulk 1932-1961)

Creator

Atlanta Constitution (Firm) (Organization)
Kuhns Photographic Studio (Atlanta, Ga.) (Organization)
Atlanta Journal (Firm) (Organization)
Atlanta Constitution (Firm) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.

Biographical / Historical

Kenneth G. Rogers (1907-1989) was born in Camak, Georgia, to William G. Rogers (1868-1956) and Mary Lou Perkins Rogers (1876-1971). His family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1915 where Rogers attended Tech High School. In 1923, Rogers began working for the Atlanta Constitution as an office assistant and was promoted to the head of the Photography Department in 1930. When the Atlanta Constitution merged with the Atlanta Journal in 1952, he became the Director of Magazine Photography and remained in this position until his retirement in 1972. Throughout his career, Rogers covered important news events in Atlanta and Georgia, and captured scenes from the Georgia countryside. He was also the exclusive photographer for Rich's Inc. Rogers was married to Jessie Lee Barnes Rogers (1912-1988) and the couple had one child: William G. Rogers (1935-2015). Rogers and his family are buried at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.

Extent

6454 image(s) (5,876 black and white negatives, 279 color negatives, 161 glass plate negatives, 110 black and white photographic prints, 17 stereographs, nine drawings, and two painting reproductions)

Language

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in five series: Series I. People; Series II. Events and Activities; Series III. Geographic Locations; Series IV. Artistic Images; and Series V. Collected Images. The collection is arranged alphabetically within each series according to titles supplied by staff. Control numbers are intentionally out of order to maintain alphabetical order.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Most of the images in this collection are located in cold storage (CS) as indicated in the descriptive inventory. Patrons must allow 24 hours after retrieval of cold storage item(s) before viewing material.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Many of the images in this collection have been digitized and are available at: https://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/digital/collection/Rogers

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 1968, with subsequent additions.

Bias in Description

As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information. We choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not accurately convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. In working with this collection, we often re-use language used by the former owners of the material. This language provides context but often includes bias and prejudices reflective of the time in which it was created. The Kenan Research Center’s work is ongoing to implement reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete.

Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or descriptions, please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.