Description: Author Paul Laurence Dunbar, pictured in the center of the back row, with friends, ca. 1890-1906. A note on the back of the photograph describes the men and women pictured as Dunbar's "English friends and advisors." Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05267
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Paul Laurence Dunbar by photographer Estella Kile, Dayton, Ohio, February 1904. He was born in Dayton in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00721
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Paul Laurence Dunbar, ca. 1890-1900. Josephine Watkins Lehman, known to Dunbar as "Aunt Bam," was the daughter of Dunbar's high school principal and mentor, William Watkins. She is credited with taking this photograph. Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03381
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of Paul Laurence Dunbar, pictured far left, with several unidentified gentlemen holding fish. The men are wearing casual slacks, long-sleeved button front shirts, and hats. Dunbar, a native of Dayton, Ohio, was a prominent African American poet, playwright, and author over the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05266
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906--Homes and haunts--Ohio; African American authors; Fishing;
 

Description: Portrait of Paul Laurence Dunbar, February 1904. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00502
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Poet Paul Laurence Dunbar at age 19, 1892. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00514
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Paul Laurence Dunbar hanging above the fireplace in the Dunbar House, ca. 1938. This home, at 219 Paul Laurence Dunbar Street in Dayton, Ohio, was the final home of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. After Dunbar's death in 1906 his mother, Matilda Dunbar, continued to live in the house until her death in 1934. In 1936 the Dunbar House became the first state memorial to honor an African American. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03329
Subjects: Authors, American--Ohio; Multicultural Ohio--African American Ohioans; Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906--Homes and haunts--Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of a bookcase and other furniture at the Dunbar House, ca. 1938. This home, at 219 Paul Laurence Dunbar Street in Dayton, Ohio, was the final home of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. After Dunbar's death in 1906 his mother, Matilda Dunbar, continued to live in the house until her death in 1934. In 1936 the Dunbar House became the first state memorial to honor an African American. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03330
Subjects: African American poets; Multicultural Ohio--African American Ohioans; Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906--Homes and haunts--Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Cabinet card portrait of author Paul Laurence Dunbar as a young man, ca. 1890. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05253
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Cabinet card portrait of author Paul Laurence Dunbar as a young man, ca. 1890. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05254
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Cabinet card portrait of author Paul Laurence Dunbar as a young man, ca. 1890. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05255
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of author Paul Laurence Dunbar on horseback, ca. 1890-1906. A note written on the back of the photograph indicates that the horse may have inspired Dunbar's poem "Dat Ol' Mare O' Mine." Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05260
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio; Horses
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)