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Wreath and eternal flame laid in front of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s tomb at Southview Cemetery

National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Object Details

Photograph by
Horace C. Henry, American, born 1948
Subject of
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., American, founded 1906
Printed by
Unidentified
Caption
Dr. King was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and members of the Eta Lambda Graduate Chapter laid this wreath at his tomb to honor, to celebrate, to rejoice and remember the life of a King.
....And all of this happened ... "One Day In January". - HORACE C. HENRY-
Description
This black and white photograph were taken the day of the first commemorative event for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in 1969. The photograph shows the marble tomb, center, of King's original burial site at South-View Cemetery. The tomb reads [REV MARTIN LUTHER KING JR / 1929-1968 / "FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, / THANK GOD ALMIGHTY I'M FREE AT LAST."]
There is a space in front of the headstone that is filled with small pebbles and lined in stone. At the bottom of the photograph is a small ceremonial flame sitting on the rocks. Between the tomb and the flame, there is a wreath with a cursive signature [Alpha Phi Alpha / Eta Lambda Chapter]. The flowers are in the shape of the Alpha Phi Alpha greek letters. The wreath is leaning against the tomb with the the flowers and bottom half of the inscription visible.
The back of the photograph has a manufacturer's mark, and handwritten and printer's inscriptions.
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Horace C. Henry
January 15, 1969; printed 2011
Object number
2011.94.44
Restrictions & Rights
© Horace Henry
Type
inkjet prints
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 cm)
Place depicted
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Portfolio/Series
One Day in January: A Collection of Images Taken at Dr. King’s First Memorial Service
Classification
Media Arts-Photography
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Topic
African American
Associations and institutions
Civil Rights
Fraternal organizations
Funeral customs and rites
Photography
Religion
U.S. History, 1961-1969
Record ID
nmaahc_2011.94.44
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd596a6c666-3bba-427f-80ee-0f83221b1c74

Related Content

  • Martin Luther King Jr.

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