Jo Tartt Jr. and Judith Tartt Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS-4303

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Jo Tartt Jr. and Judith Tartt papers

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Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a variety of materials related to the life of Jo Cowin Tartt Jr. and his wife, Judith Watkins Tartt. The materials are predominately focused on Mr. Tartt's childhood and various careers throughout his life. Of notable interest are his photographs of African Americans in the Alabama Black Belt during the 1960s through the early 1980s, which depict life and living conditions in small town Alabama after the Civil Rights movement. In addition to his photographs, other materials include journals, documents related to family history, sermons, art, interviews, and photographs and ephemera realted to Alabama's history.

Dates

Creation: 1890 - 2019

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

Jo Cowin Tartt Jr. (1941 October 09-) was born in Livingston, Alabama, to Dorothy Allison Tartt (1916-1963) and Jo Cowin Tartt Sr. (1911-1966). He has a younger brother, Innes Thornton Tartt, born in 1944. He grew up at Thornhill Plantation in Forkland, Alabama, where his maternal grandmother, Helen Allison Thornton (1890-1963), lived. Due to his mother’s poor health, the family hired Sally Jenkins to care for Jo and Innes. Her time with the brothers made a lasting impact on both men, as they stayed in contact with Sally for the rest of her life. Jo joined the Marine Corps in 1963 and was honorably discharged in 1964. He attended Washington and Lee University from 1960-1965, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English. In 1965, he began coursework for his master’s in divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained in 1969. He became the rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Washington, D. C., in 1971, and remained in that position until 1981. During this time as a college student and minister, Jo was an amateur photographer, capturing many images of life in the Black Belt of Alabama from the 1960s through the 1980s. After leaving the priesthood, he became a private art dealer, specializing in photography. During that time, he also represented Yousuf Karsh. Beginning in 1986, Tartt owned and operated the Tartt Gallery in Washington, D. C. The gallery closed in 2002, allowing Jo to focus on community activism in retirement. He has two sons, Mitchell and Jason Tartt, and currently lives with his wife, Judith, in the Washington, D. C. area.

Judith Watkins Tartt is a private conservator of paintings at ART-CARE, which she founded in 1998 with her business partner, Leigh Ann White. She graduated from Mount Vernon Seminary in 1967, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Art History in 1971 from George Washington University. After graduation, Judith apprenticed under H. Stewart Treviranus for five years before entering the field. Judith has worked as a painting conservator around the world, including the Hong Kong Museum and Sotheby's. She currently lives with her husband in the Washington, D. C. area.

Extent

21.8 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection consists of a variety of materials related to the life of Jo Cowin Tartt Jr. and his wife, Judith Watkins Tartt. The materials are predominately focused on Mr. Tartt's childhood and various careers throughout his life. Of notable interest are his photographs of the Alabama Black Belt during the 1960s through the early 1980s, which depict life and living conditions in small-town Alabama after the Civil Rights movement. In addition to his photographs, other materials include journals, documents related to family history, sermons, art, interviews, and photographs and ephemera related to Alabama's history.