(WOMENS HISTORY) Photograph of Alice Dunnigan the first Blac

Sale 2562 - Lot 354

Unsold

Estimate: $ 500 - $ 750

(WOMEN'S HISTORY.) Photograph of Alice Dunnigan, the first Black member of the White House press corps, receiving an award. Photograph, 8 x 10 inches, with manuscript inscription (believed to be in Dunnigan's hand) and inked photographer's stamp on verso; mount residue and slight caption loss on verso, minor wear. [Washington], [19 June] 1959

Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

Alice Allison Dunnigan (1906-1983) had a long career as a journalist, most notably becoming the first Black member of the White House press corps in 1948, and spending 1947 to 1961 as head of the Washington bureau of the Associated Negro Press. In 1961, she was appointed by John F. Kennedy to the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity.

The caption on this photograph reads "Alice A. Dunnigan received 'Honneur of Merite' chevalier from President of Haiti for 'honest and unbias reporting of the conditions in that cou]ntry.' Award presented by Ambassador [Fern] Baguidy of OAS (1959)." Dunnigan had visited Haiti that February and written a flattering column about President François "Papa Doc" Duvalier on 14 February 1959. This award presentation was covered in the Pittsburgh Courier of 20 June 1959.

The photographer was Maurice Sorrell of Washington, a groundbreaker in his own right--he was the first Black member of the White House Photographers Association.