About

6 inches; photographic.
200 gelatin silver prints approx.

Collection Description

S. Juanita Williams, a professional photographer, was born November 16, 1926, in Stafford, Texas. One of six sisters and three brothers, she was raised by grandparents in Stafford until age six and then in Houston by her mother. She attended Phyllis Wheatley High School in Houston and became acquainted with the A.C. Teal family's Teal Studio.

Williams worked at the Teal Studio from 1941 to 1951 and attended the Teal School of Photography from 1942 to 1944. During that period, she learned standard photographic techniques, including lab chemistry, retouching, and hand-coloring. After working a year at photo-finishing in Seattle in 1952 she moved back to Houston and resumed work for the Teal Studio until 1954, when she began work at Courtesy Photo. Williams's employment at Courtesy Photo lasted until 1962, the year she started her own studio out of her home During the 1950s and 1960s she trained for and held other jobs, which included nursing assistance and life insurance underwriting. And in the 1970s and 1980s, Williams also worked for Nita’s Photos.

Juanita Williams was married in 1945 and a son was born a year later. She and her husband separated in the 1950s. An oral history with Williams and examples of her work appear in Portraits of Community: African American Photography in Texas (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1996).

The collection contains examples of Williams's commercial and informal photography, made between 1962 and 1984, as well as some undated material. Subject matter includes religious activities and groups, education, women’s groups, and gardening. Noted figures pictured include U. S. Congressman Mickey Leland, U. S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, Texas State Representative and a number of Houston, Texas African American church leaders.

Listen to an audio clip from S. Juanita Williams.

Arrangement: prints arranged by subject.

Copyright and permissions: Copyright retained by photographer. Prints for research and study only. Written permission to reproduce required from photographer.

Source: donated by S. Juanita Williams