“Souvenir Views: Negro Enterprises & Residences, Richmond, VA” (1907)

Another great source for African American and architectural history, “Souvenir views: Negro enterprises & residences, Richmond, VA” is a 1907 publication that provides pictures and descriptions of various notable homes and businesses owned by Black Richmonders. This publication, held and made available by the Library of Congress, may be viewed digitally through the “American Libraries” section of Internet Archive. Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library, with an extensive collection of publications, movies, music, software, and more. 

“Souvenir Views..” cover page

 

This is one of the earliest publications printed by the Murray Brothers Printing Co., a Washington D.C. printing company founded by Freeman H.M. Murray. The business became an important player in African American journalism and activism, having printed newspapers such as the NAACP’s Crisis newspaper, and the Washington Tribune, as well as pamphlets and writings by other Black scholars and activists [information from the D.C. Historic Sites webpage on the “Murray Brothers and the Black Press”]. 

 

Murray Brothers Printers, pg. 62

 

The first page of “Souvenir views..” details data about African Americans living in Richmond at the time, such as estimated population, real estate value, and annual amount paid in taxes. The page then goes on to list the numbers of various categories of notable Black-owned businesses and enterprises in Richmond. The rest of the publication contains black and white pictures, primarily illustrations, of these business buildings, as well as churches, and homes of community leaders. The sources and the dates of the images are not listed; however, descriptions of their contents are provided. Many of the buildings shown are in Jackson Ward and Richmond’s East End. Here are some of the pictures from the collection, along with screenshots from Google Maps of what those locations look like today:

 

Miller’s Hotel and Cafe, pg. 13 

 

 

Building now on the corner of N 2nd and Leigh streets, with the “Millers and Eggleston Hotels” historic marker (2023)

 

 

Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Church, pg. 48 [built in 1887]

 

 

Present-day Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Church (2023) [built in 1925]

 

;

The Planet Office, pg. 33

 

 

Present-day location of former 300 block of N 4th street, now a part of the Greater Richmond Convention Center (2022)

 

  - Gabrielle Dietrich, VCU undergraduate majoring in International Studies and French with a minor in History. She graduates in the Spring of 2024