Special thanks to Lawrence H. Levens for the story and images.

As part of the Barnes/Dixon/Myers Historical Harlem Papers, Archives and Musical Manuscripts Collection are several rare photographs such as this never before seen or  originally identified James Van der Zee photograph of two distinguished musicians one seated at the piano and the other musician leaning on it. I was referred to the Metropolitan Museum of Art James Van der Zee Collection curator's by Thelma Golden's assistant.

 Here is a copy of the James Van der Zee Portrait:

Another great portrait in the collection is this photo of Cora Gray Illidge of the Amsterdam News and The Chicago Defender.

Courtesy and used with permission:
Lawrence H. Levens - Custodian and Guardian of the (BDM) Barnes/Dixon/Myers Historical Harlem Papers, Archives and Musical Manuscripts Collection

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