Leslie Porch Kerlin Photographs

Collection

Identifier: WP-005

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of approximately 2,500 black-and-white photographs taken by amateur photographer, Leslie Porch Kerlin, in Alabama and the Southeast United States, depicting well-known landmarks and natural settings from the 1920s through the 1960s. Of particular interest are the images taken in the Birmingham, Alabama, area, that document local businesses, the demolition and construction of buildings, and local events. Other images document the evolution of locomotives and automobiles during the first half of the twentieth century, natural settings in the Appalachian Mountains, and friends and family. There is also a small selection of images from Iwo Jima during World War II taken by Alfred Jacobs.

Dates

1915 - 1974

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections.

For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

Leslie Porch Kerlin (1907-1984) was born in Anniston, Alabama, as the only child of William Franklin Kerlin (1871-1954) and Hattie Laura Kerlin (1878-1962). The Kerlin family moved to Birmingham, Alabama, around 1909, where Porch Kerlin attended Hemphill Elementary School. Porch worked as a cabinet maker in Birmingham for his entire life and never married. He is buried at the Alexander City Cemetery in Alexander City, Alabama.

Extent

4 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

Approximately 2,500 black-and-white photographs taken by Leslie Porch Kerlin in Alabama and the Southeast United States, depicting well-known landmarks and natural settings.

Arrangement

Upon arrival, two of the six photographic albums were deconstructed and stored as single photographs; however, all six albums had item-level inventories. The archivist chose to maintain the item-level inventories for the albums that were still intact (A-1, B-2, D-4, and E-5) without assigning an item number in the finding aid nor on the photograph. The inventories were provided for researchers to see a description of what is contained within each album. The deconstructed albums (C-3 and F-6) have item numbers assigned to each photograph.