This collection has use restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 4200 items (1 linear foot) |
Abstract | Photographs created by white photographer John Messina, documenting the 1971 Mississippi gubernatorial campaign of Charles Evers. Charles Evers, an African American politician and civil rights activist, was elected mayor of Fayette, Miss., from 1969 to 1981 and from 1985 to 1989. In 1971 he ran an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Mississippi. Evers' brother, Medgar Evers, was a civil rights activist who was assassinated by a white supremacist in 1963. Images depict Charles Evers holding statewide rallies, community meetings, and activities at the campaign headquarters in Jackson, Miss. |
Creator | Messina, John, 1940- |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: Patrick Cullom, September 2019
Encoded by: Patrick Cullom, September 2019
Since August 2017, we have added ethnic and racial identities for individuals and families represented in collections. To determine identity, we rely on self-identification; other information supplied to the repository by collection creators or sources; public records, press accounts, and secondary sources; and contextual information in the collection materials. Omissions of ethnic and racial identities in finding aids created or updated after August 2017 are an indication of insufficient information to make an educated guess or an individual's preference for identity information to be excluded from description. When we have misidentified, please let us know at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
John Messina provided the following biographical information* in August 2019:
In 1971, Charles Evers, brother of the slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers, ran for governor of Mississippi. John Messina was a freelance photographer based in New Orleans, La. In an ongoing effort to document changes that were taking place in the South, Messina "self-assigned" himself to photograph the Charles Evers campaign. For five months, he and his wife, Tania Messina, would drive to Mississippi from their home in New Orleans in order to photograph statewide rallies, meetings, as well as activities at the Jackson, Miss. campaign headquarters. Having gained the trust and support of Charles Evers and his staff, Messina received complete cooperation and access to the campaign. Evers’ attempt to become governor appeared to most people to be a quixotic endeavor considering that statewide demographics did not favor an African American candidate. However, it soon became apparent to Messina that Evers was not only running for governor, but by his candidacy he also was attempting to provide encouragement and support to the many black candidates for lesser offices in numerous Mississippi towns and counties.
*John Messina's original text was lightly edited to conform with the style guide in use.
Back to TopPhotographs created by white photographer John Messina, documenting the 1971 Mississippi gubernatorial campaign of Charles Evers. Charles Evers, an African American politician and civil rights activist, was elected mayor of Fayette, Miss., from 1969 to 1981 and from 1985 to 1989. In 1971 he ran an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Mississippi. Evers' brother, Medgar Evers, was a civil rights activist who was assassinated by a white supremacist in 1963. Images depict Charles Evers holding statewide rallies, community meetings, and activities at the campaign headquarters in Jackson, Miss.
Back to TopArrangement: Original order.
Messina numbered the 110 rolls of film in the collection. The numbers appear to correspond with numbering found on contact sheets and photographic prints.
Image Box IB-05798/1 |
Photographic prints and printed materials (captions),1971Black-and-White Photographic Prints 213 Items The contact sheets in this box depict each of the 110 rolls of film in the collection. Also included are an image depicting John Messina and Tania Messina with Charles Evers, a selection of prints made from the negatives, and a typed set of quotes from people involved in the campaign. |
Arrangement: Original order.
Negatives in this collection are not available for same day access. Contact wilsonlibrary@unc.edu to discuss options.
Messina numbered the 110 rolls of film in the collection. The numbers appear to correspond with numbering found on contact sheets and photographic prints.
Image Box IB-05798/2 |
Photographic negatives, 1971Black-and-White 35mm Roll Film 3,300 Images Original numbering on negatives corresponds to numbering on prints and contact sheets. |