Rosskam Collection

CHICAGO: CHILDREN, 1941. Children jumping rope outside of an apartment building on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: BARBER SHOP, 1941. A barbershop in the Black Belt section of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: MOVIE THEATER. Children lined up to see the Easter Sunday matinee at a movie theater on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: FAMILY, 1941. An African American family in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

CHICAGO: NURSES, 1941. The nurses station at Provident Hospital, one of the few African-American hospitals with an African-American staff in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1941

CHICAGO: CHILDREN, 1941. Children playing ring around the rosie in the Black Belt neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1941

CHICAGO: CHILDREN, 1941. Group of African American children outside a building on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: STREET SCENE, 1941. Group of people outside of an apartment building on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: CONVERSATION, 1941. Two African American woman talking outside of an apartment building on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: CHILDREN, 1941. Children in front of apartment buildings on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: CHILDREN, 1941. Children playing in front of an apartment building on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: MARBLES, 1941. A group of people observing a game of marbles in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

CHICAGO: MARBLES, 1941. A group of African American boys playing marbles outside in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

CHICAGO: POSTERS, 1941. Circus posters on a wall in the Black Belt area of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1941

PUERTO RICO: COCKFIGHT, 1937. A cockfight in Puerto Rico. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1937

PUERTO RICO: SUGAR CANE. Workers on a plantation near Ponce, Puerto Rico unloading sugar cane onto a train for shipment to the refinery. Oil over a photograph, 1938, by Edwin Rosskam

CHICAGO: PAPER COLLECTING. An African American man and woman collecting paper for sale, on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: CHILDREN, 1941. Boys playing and pretending that they are shooting machine guns at a passing airplane, on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: EASTER, 1941. Congregation outside of a church on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, on Easter Sunday. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: EASTER PROCESSION. Easter procession outside of a church on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: SHOESHINE, 1941. A shoeshine on 47th Street on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April, 1941

CHICAGO: LILY VENDORS, 1941. Lily vendors on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, on Easter Sunday, 1941. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam

CHICAGO: HOSPITAL, 1941. A doctor and patient at Provident Hospital, one of the few African American hospitals with an African American staff in Chicago, Illinois

CHICAGO: MEN, 1941. Group of African American men in front of a storefront in Chicago, Illnois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

CHICAGO: MARBLES, 1941. An African American boy shooting marbles on a sidewalk in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

CHICAGO: MAN, 1941. Portrait of an African American man in front of a storefront in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

CHICAGO: STOREFRONT, 1941. A storefront in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

CHICAGO: LUNCH WAGON, 1941. A lunch wagon for African Americans in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: CHURCH, 1941. Sign outside of a church on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

INSURANCE COMPANY, 1941. Employees at work at an African American insurance company in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

CHICAGO: CHURCH, 1941. Congregation outside of a church on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO: CHILDREN, 1941. African American children in front of an apartment building on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO, 1941. Children on their way to church in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

NEW JERSEY, 1936. View of Seabrook Farms between Bridgeton and Vineland, New Jersey. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1936

CHICAGO: EASTER, 1941. Easter procession outside of an African American church in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April 1941

CHICAGO, 1941. Portrait of a man in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, July 1941

CROP DUSTING, 1938. A crop-dusting airplane over Seabrook Farms, between Bridgetown and Vineland, New Jersey. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1938

PUERTO RICO: HEALTH CENTER. A doctor checking a patient for hookworm in a Puerto Rico Resettlement Administration health center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1938

PUERTO RICO: HEALTH CENTER. A doctor administering an anti-malarial injection in a Puerto Rico Resettlement Administration health center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1938

PUERTO RICO: HEALTH CENTER. Distribution of free medicine outside a Puerto Rico Resettlement Administration health center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1938

PHOTOGRAPHER, 1941. A photographer, probably Edwin Rosskam, wearing a surgical mask in the operating room at Provident Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph, 1941

CHICAGO: SANITARIUM, 1941. Men and women in the waiting room at the municipal sanitarium on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1941

CHICAGO: SURGERY, 1941. A nurse assisting a hernia operation at Provident Hospital, one of the few African-American hospitals with an African-American staff in Chicago, Illinois

CHICAGO: NURSE, 1941. A nurse at Provident Hospital, one of the few African-American hospitals with an African-American staff in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1941

PUERTO RICO: FOOD, 1938. A person eating rice and beans in Puerto Rico. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1938

MARYLAND: FARMER, 1940. A farmer and his horse team near Frederick, Maryland. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, 1940

WASHINGTON, D. C. c1942. Shulman Market at the southeast corner of N Street and Union Street S
WASHINGTON, D.C. c1942. Shulman Market at the southeast corner of N Street and Union Street S.W. in Washington, D.C. with a 1931 Chevrolet parked in front. Photograph by Louise Rosskam, c1942

WASHINGTON D. C. : HOUSES. Row houses on the corner of North and Union Street in Washington, D
WASHINGTON D.C.: HOUSES. Row houses on the corner of North and Union Street in Washington, D.C. Photographed by Louise Rosskam, c1942

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"Capturing the Spirit of Chicago: Edwin Rosskam's Timeless Photographs" Step back in time to 1941, when Edwin Rosskam roamed the streets of Chicago with his camera, documenting slices of everyday life. In this captivating collection, we witness the vibrant energy and resilience of a city through its children, families, and communities. In one frame, children jump rope outside an apartment building, their laughter echoing through the air as they revel in youthful innocence. Another photograph transports us to a bustling barbershop in the Black Belt section of Chicago. The hum of conversation fills the room as men gather for haircuts and camaraderie. It also takes us to a movie theater where anticipation hangs thick in the air. Children line up eagerly for an Easter Sunday matinee, their eyes shining with excitement at what awaits them on screen. And then there is that African American family captured by Rosskam's lens – their love and unity radiating from every corner of the frame. The nurses station at Provident Hospital stands as a testament to dedication and compassion amidst challenging times. It serves as a reminder that even during difficult periods in history, heroes emerge within our healthcare system. In another image filled with joyous nostalgia, children play ring around the rosie in Chicago's Black Belt neighborhood – carefree moments frozen forever by Rosskam's keen eye. Meanwhile, groups of African American children gather outside buildings or on street corners; their bond palpable despite any hardships they may face. And finally, two African American women engage in deep conversation outside an apartment building – perhaps discussing dreams or sharing stories that transcend time itself. Through these photographs captured over seven decades ago by Edwin Rosskam’s discerning lens emerges a vivid portrait of Chicago - its diversity celebrated through images that still resonate today. These snapshots serve as reminders not only of our shared humanity but also inspire us to cherish those fleeting moments that make life truly beautiful.