Morgan and Marvin Smith

Morgan (February 16, 1910 – February 17, 1993)[1] and Marvin Smith, (February 16, 1910 – 2003)[2] identical African-American twin brothers, were photographers and artists known for documenting the life of Harlem in the 1930s to 1950s.

Morgan and Marvin Smith
Born(1993-02-16)February 16, 1993
DiedMorgan February 17, 1993(1993-02-17) (aged 83) Marvin November 9, 2003(2003-11-09) (aged 93)

The brothers were born in Nicholasville, Kentucky, to sharecroppers Charles and Allena Smith. The family moved to Lexington, when Morgan and Marvin were 12 years old.[3]

While in high school Morgan and Marvin Smith developed their artistic skills using oil paints and soaps to create sculptures.[4] Their passion moved them to Harlem, New York, in 1933 and opened up M. Smith Studios soon thereafter in 1937. The studio was located on 125th Street, next to the Apollo Theater and became a meeting place for performers, artists and fashion models, many of whom they had met as the Apollo's official photographers.[2]

The Smith Brothers using New Media-technological advances and artistic talent did video, sculpting, painting and at an extremely high level when resources were difficult to acquire for African Americans. Additionally, their mission was to shine their lens on all shades of Blackness during a time when dark skin was considered by some as a handicap in the entertainment industry.[2]

Documentary and Resources

There have been several documentaries and books written about the brothers, including Harlem: The Vision of Morgan and Marvin Smith written by James and Morgan Smith, on November 13, 1997.[5]

They worked with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and a PBS Special aired in 1995.[6]

References
  1. "Morgan and Marvin Smith".
  2. Martin, Douglas (November 12, 2003). "Marvin Smith, 93, Whose Photographs Defined Harlem Life". The New York Times.
  3. Brennan, Carol. "Smith, Marvin and Morgan 1910–2003 and 1910–1993". Encyclopedia.com.
  4. "Black ThenMarvin and Morgan Smith: Photographers and Artists of the Harlem Renaissance - Black Then".
  5. Smith, Morgan, and John Smith (1997). "Harlem: The Vision of Morgan and Marvin Smith". Amazon.com. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0813120294. Retrieved March 9, 2017.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  6. "Marvin Smith, Noted Photographer Of Harlem Life, Succumbs In Manhattan Age 93", Jet, Johnson Publishing Company, 104 (25): 16, 15 December 2003, ISSN 0021-5996, retrieved March 9, 2017


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