Tent City Family, Somerville, Fayette County, Tennessee

Artist Ernest C. Withers (American, 1922-2007)

Date1960

MediumGelatin silver print

DimensionsOverall, Image: 14 9/16 × 14 15/16 in. (37 × 37.9 cm)
Overall: 19 7/8 × 16 in. (50.5 × 40.6 cm)
Overall, Mat: 26 × 22 1/8 in. (66 × 56.2 cm)

ClassificationsCivil Rights Movement

Credit LinePurchase in Memory of Alice R. and Sol B. Frank, and the Art Purchase Fund

Object number97.21.4

Terms

African-American Artist
Family
tent
Women
Children
Boys
Girls
Civil Rights
Black
White

On View

Not on view

DescriptionTent City Family. Were evicted from their home for voting. Fayette County, TN

Label TextErnest C. Withers American (b. 1922) "Tent City" Family, 1960 Gelatin-silver print Purchase, in memory of Alice R. & Sol B. Frank, and the Art Purchase Fund 97.21.4 "Tent City" in Fayette County, Tennessee, was created when black families were evicted from their homes for voting in 1960. They took up residence on the property of Shep Toles. The idea was conceived by Attorney J. F. Estes, an ex-U.S. Army major, legal counsel for John McFerren of Somerville, Tennessee, and head of the Fayette County movement.