19 Rare Vintage Photos that Celebrate Black Womanhood

These photos are from the Vintage Black Glamour book by Nichelle Gainer, released this past January. The book curates images of black women throughout the 20th century.

by Rachel Wilkerson Miller of Buzzfeed

1. Valaida Snow

Snow is pictured conducting an orchestra in London, October 1934.

2. Pearl Primus

Primus was a dancer and choreographer known for creating dances like “Strange Fruit” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.”

3. Margot Webb

The dancer is pictured in 1934.

4. Margaret Thynes

The internationally known singer is pictured in 1959.

5. Josephine Baker

The dancer, singer, and actress is pictured in Château des Milandes, her home from 1937 to 1969.

6. Adelaide Hall

The entertainer is pictured in 1928.

7. Ivie Anderson

Anderson is pictured performing with Duke Ellington circa 1935.

8. Charlotte Hawkins Brown

Brown founded the Palmer Memorial Institute, a day and boarding school for African-Americans, in 1902. The educator and author is pictured here on her wedding day in 1911.

9. Lena Horne

Horne was an American actress, singer, dancer, and civil rights activist.

10. A Taste of Honey

Janice Marie Johnson (left) and Hazel Payne (right) were the duo known as A Taste of Honey, responsible for the 1978 hit “Boogie Oogie Oogie.”

11. Mary Lou Williams

The jazz musician and composer is pictured circa 1944.

12. Maria Cole

Cole is pictured in 1948, trying on one of her gifts at a party in Harlem celebrating her marriage to Nat “King” Cole.

13. Nina Simone

The musician is pictured in Pittsburgh circa 1965.

See the rest of the photos on Buzzfeed

Are you familiar with any of the above photographed women?