Martin Taber photograph collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS 025.014

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists primarily of photographs taken by Martin Taber, featuring various subjects. The bulk of the photographs were captured from 1952 – 1955. There is a portrait of Martin Taber in his Sargent uniform from 1943 and a photo taken by Martin Taber on Congdon Street in Providence of the downtown Providence skyline in 1983. Photographs feature distinct watermarks identifying Taber as the photographer on the front or reverse side of the image. The collection contains a few non-photographic materials, including a letter noting Martin Taber’s completion of a course in photography at Brown University during Fall 1947. The photographs are organized into physical folders, each labeled and categorized by themes such as organizations, events, locations, and identified individuals.

Dates

Creation: 1947 - 1983

Conditions Governing Access

RIBHS staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Conditions Governing Use

RIBHS staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Biographical / Historical

Martin J. Taber Jr. (1919 – 1997) was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and lived in East Providence for most of his life. He had two brothers, Victor and Thomas Taber, and two sisters, Hope A. Taber and Gladyce T. Clark. He was married to Gertrude Irngard Taber, who appears in the collection. Mr. Taber served as a police officer with the East Providence Police Department and was a Sargent in the Army during World War II. He had a brief career as a professional boxer and later became a boxing referee. He also pursued photography. His community engagement included his role as a deacon at the Congdon Street Baptist Church and memberships in the 1858ers Club, King Solomon Lodge 5 Free and Accepted Mason (Prince Hall Affiliated), and the Mount Sinai Consistory 12 Scottish Rite.