Scope and Content Note
The Robert H. McNeill Family Collection consists of three related collections: the William Henry Richards Collection; the Mary Alice (Wheeler) and William C. McNeill Family Collection; and the McNeill Family Collection. It is comprised of over 39,000 items, predominantly photographic material, documenting Robert McNeill's career as a photographer. The bulk of the collection consists of the McNeill Family Collection, which spans from the 1840s through the 1990s and represents McNeill's work as a prominent photographer within the African American community in D.C. who operated a portrait and free-lance photo news service in Washington, D.C. McNeill's images include women, men, children, and families, with a large portion including nurses and high school graduation portraits. McNeill documented many African American celebrities and newsworthy political, cultural, and sporting events in Washington, D.C. These images were often printed in African American papers and magazines nationwide, including "Flash," an African American periodical published in Los Angeles. Additional photographs document his time in the military and as a photographer for the State Department, mostly comprised of portraits and events during the 1950s.
The Mary Alice (Wheeler) and William C. Neill Family Collection includes photo albums and other photographs collected and taken by various McNeill family members. The images depict candid photos of daily life and special events spanning several generations.
The William Henry Richards Collection includes photographs of prominent African American educators, politicians, activists, civic leaders, writers, lawyers, and journalists collected by William Henry Richards. Other items include a campaign poster of George H. Woodson, a fellow founding member of the Niagara Movement. Additional photographs show self-portraits of William Henry Richards and portraits of men, women, and children.