Scope and Content Note
The papers of the Robert H. McNeill family span the years 1839-2008, with the bulk of the material dating from 1906 through 2002. The papers document the leadership and accomplishments of an African American family living in the District of Columbia during the twentieth century. The papers are in English. The collection is organized into seven series: Robert H. McNeill, Bertha C. McNeill, Mary A. McNeill, William C. McNeill, Other Family Papers, Closed and Oversize.
The collection documents the professional and personal endeavors of the Robert H. McNeill family who resided in Washington, D.C., mainly from the early 1900s to 2005. At the heart of the collection are the papers of Robert H. McNeill, a freelance photographer, who photographed local events and culture primarily for African American newspapers and magazines from the 1930s through the 1940s. He later served as a government photographer at the Department of Defense (1950-1956) and the Department of State (1956-1978). McNeill's early photographs were known for portraying African Americans as they went about their daily lives. Additional family members represented in the collection are Bertha C. McNeill (Robert's aunt), Mary A. McNeill (Robert's mother) and William C. McNeill (Robert's father). The papers of Bertha C. McNeill document her work as an educator and newspaper columnist, her affiliation with organizations including the National Association of College Women and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, her endeavors for better race relations, and her interest in religion. The files of Mary A. McNeill chronicle her life as a homemaker, her activities as a teacher, her service as a member of the Board of Education for the District of Columbia, her interest in family history and genealogy, and her religious activities. The papers of William C. McNeill pertain chiefly to his private medical practice and his affiliation with the Howard University College of Medicine (1904-1943) where he taught as a professor of gynecology and served as secretary-treasurer for approximately twelve years.
The collection's series are listed and briefly described below. A fuller description of each series and a list of its contents can be accessed in the series descriptions within the container list.
The Robert H. McNeill series covers mainly Robert's career as a professional photographer, although files relating to his military service and personal interests are also present.
The Bertha C. McNeill series documents mainly her endeavors to improve the education of African Americans, promote better race relations, and work for world peace as a member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).
The Mary A. McNeill series documents her family life, her teaching career, her engagement in civic and religious activities, her high school and college years, and her interest in family history and genealogy.
The William C. McNeill series mainly documents his career as a physician and his tenure with the Howard University College of Medicine.
The Other Family Papers series consists chiefly of the papers of Oliver W. H. McNeill, uncle of Robert H. McNeill.
The Oversize series is made up mainly of card files relating to Bertha C. McNeill's graduate studies at Catholic University.