Musical accompaniment: My Blue Heaven by Gene Austin.

I came across these sweet anonymous pictures from the 1920s. The metadata only states that the pictures are from the album of a black woman.

There are a few clues to the album owner’s identity. She added captions to her photographs, and references her roommates at school at “T.N.U.” In some cases, she gives their names. The only school in the US I found with those initials is Trevecca Nazarene University, near Nashville. If the “T.N.” refers to Tennessee, there are many colleges and universities there, including some HBCUs. We talked about Fisk University not too long ago. There’s Tennessee State University. It doesn’t match up exactly but it might be what students called it.

I’ll post half today and the rest tomorrow. The pictures aren’t dated, but I’d guess the ones in this post are a little earlier than the ones for tomorrow. The captions are above each picture.

“Monday Morning Always a Bad Luck Day so Excuse Us”

Hood Museum at Dartmouth University

“Mother”

Hood Museum at Dartmouth University

“That Wicked Trio!! Hattie Jett Frances”

Hood Museum at Dartmouth University

“Roommates in old T.N.U. Jett + Mildred + Hattie”

Hood Museum at Dartmouth University

“My dear schoolmates – 1. Coshia Rosenwald 2. Frances Dunbar!!!”

Hood Museum at Dartmouth University

“Doing My Best”

Do you see the shadow of the photographer? She’s wearing a cloche hat!

Hood Museum at Dartmouth University

Go to Part 2!