Candidates for Office 1966. Far left Rev Lonnie Brown; 5th from left in striped sweater, Rev John Ward

Candidates for Office, Alabama 1966. L to R: James Calhoun, Donnie V. Irby, James Perryman, James Robinson, Rev Frank Smith, Rev Lonnie Brown

Ann Braxton, Tax Assessor Candidate, Marengo County AL 1966 with family in Demopolis

Bob Fitch photos ©Bob Fitch Photo Archive Stanford University. All rights reserved. Photos may be shared for educational non-commerical and identification purposes only.

Civil rights photographer Bob Fitch www.bobfitchphoto.com, activist, friend and historian, has asked for assistance in identifying some of his historic photos of the first African-American candidates who ran for election in Alabama in 1966. Few of them were elected the first time out but they paved the way for others who finally won in majority Black counties. Some photos are of those who worked on campaigns, friends and families. All were taken in Alabama 1965-66. These photos are part of the Bob Fitch archives at Stanford University Libraries and will soon be available for all to view and share, free of charge.

37-318-41 37-318-42 copy: AL CAND indoors [where?] with railing Left to Right: dark suit, Lonnie Brown, candidate for Wilcox County Commissioner,
2nd_______
3d female
4th_______
5th Striped sweater, Albert Turner
6th Sampson Crumb, candidate for Dallas County Sherriff
7th____________________
8th____________________
9th_______________________
10th______________________

37-310-5 Calhoun, Donnie V. Irby, James Perryman, James Robinson, Rev Frank Smith, Rev Lonnie Brown

To preserve the memory of the courageous local leaders, we ask your help in providing ID by name, county, office the candidate ran for and the # of the photo. You may post responses in the “leave a comment” box below, or e-mail me, Maria Gitin, civil rights veteran and author of “This Bright Light of Ours: Stories from the Voting Rights Fight.” Find my contact information at www.thisbrightlightofours.com