The Luther Hamilton Photograph Collection documents the life of a small southern town during the first half of the twentieth century through images of houses, stores, railroad stations, schools, sports teams, street scenes, parades, weddings, and more. A significant portion of the collection deals with agriculture, especially the farming and marketing of tomatoes and cabbage, and agrarian celebrations such as the annual Crystal Springs Tomato Festival.
The nearly 1,000 photographs were taken or collected by Luther Myles Hamilton, Sr., (1869-1944) of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, and his son, Luther Myles Hamilton, Jr. (1912-1994). Much of the collection is formal portrait photography taken in the father's studio, and includes town leaders Augustus Lotterhos, 'the Father of Crystal Springs,' and Bryant Wesley Matthis, 'the Cabbage King,' as well as people of various ages and races.
The nearly 1,000 photographs were taken or collected by Luther Myles Hamilton, Sr., (1869-1944) of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, and his son, Luther Myles Hamilton, Jr. (1912-1994). Much of the collection is formal portrait photography taken in the father's studio, and includes town leaders Augustus Lotterhos, 'the Father of Crystal Springs,' and Bryant Wesley Matthis, 'the Cabbage King,' as well as people of various ages and races.
Cabbage field
Crystal Springs High School marching band and drum majorettes
Dick Burney’s rural delivery ice trucks. 1930
Four unidentified women
Tomato industry, 1933