John J. Van Der Zee

James Van Der Zee was born in Lenox, Mass., on June 29, 1886. His parents, John and Elizabeth Van Der Zee, formerly worked as butler and maid for General Ulysses S. Grant. In his home, art and music were emphasized. In school, he became the class photographer after giving up painting and sketching when I found that with this little box all you had to do was open and shut it, well, that saved a whole lot of rubbin' and erasin' and that sort of thing.

• "NOTED HARLEM PHOTOGRAPHER IS DEAD" By C. GERALD FRASER Published: May 16, 1983. The New York Times.
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