This project began as a collection of found photographs documenting everyday African American lives throughout the 20th century. These images - captured by family members and friends - represent moments of personal significance never intended for a wide audience. They constitute a visual record largely absent from historical narratives, offering glimpses into Black life that counter stereotypical or one-dimensional representations. They preserve cultural memory across generations.

While building this collection, I began reading oral histories - transcripts of audio and video interviews with storytellers who wished to contribute to the chronicle of African American history. The variety of narratives and the distinctive voices of these storytellers proved captivating in their own right. I've included excerpts from these stories alongside the photographs, though they are not directly related. Each stands as its own depiction of a time and place, neither meant to fully illuminate the other.

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The photographs come from my personal collection and have been digitally retouched for this project. You may share or use these images for noncommercial purposes only, with appropriate credit to this project.

The oral history excerpts come from collections maintained by various universities and nonprofit organizations. Please refer to the Sources page for links to the full interviews and their specific terms of use. These excerpts are included here for educational purposes.

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More photographs from this collection are available at https://www.instagram.com/missing.image and https://missing-image.bsky.social.

Aaron Calhoun