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1924 New Orleans Creole Baby Photo Florestine Perrault Collins Bertrand Studio
Up for sale is a historically monumental 1924 studio portrait presentation folder documenting an elite family from the New Orleans French Creole community, captured by a pioneering icon of American photography.
PIONEERING BLACK FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER PROVENANCE:The bottom frame features a crisp blind-stamped studio mark reading: "Bertrand’s Studio, 610 N. Claiborne Ave., N.O., LA." This was the historic commercial studio operated by Florestine Perrault Collins, one of the very first professional African American female photographers in the United States. Collins opened Bertrand's Studio at this North Claiborne Avenue location in the heart of the Creole 7th Ward/Tremé district in 1923.
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY:The reverse panel features invaluable, rare original biographical pencil notes identifying the child as Adam Duroncelet, the son of Mr. & Mrs. R. J. (René Joseph) Duroncelet. Public genealogical records confirm that Adam Alvin Duroncelet was born on March 24, 1924, perfectly aligning with Collins’ tenure at the 610 N. Claiborne commercial studio. The Duroncelets are a foundational, well-documented Louisiana French Creole family of color.
DESIGN & DIMENSIONS:The item consists of a beautiful matte gelatin silver print framed under a protective oval die-cut window. It remains housed in its original heavy, texturized cardstock tri-fold display folder. The side panels fold neatly inward over the image to protect it. (Please see listing photos featuring a ruler for exact sizing dimensions).
CONDITION REPORT:This is an authentic, over 100-year-old antique artifact. The inner photograph remains in great condition with great clarity, crisp details, and strong contrast. The photo’s backside has marks from the cardboard mounting. The outer cardstock folder shows natural signs of age and wear, including corners, light edge fraying, and small surface marks from handling over the decades. There are handwritten texts identifying lineage. Please review all images carefully to assess the condition before purchasing.
