Bruce Roberts (American, 1930-2023), JFK Campaigns, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1960

Gelatin silver print, 1960, ink signed at lower left beneath the matting, framed.

Sight size 9 1/4 x 13 1/4 in.; Frame dimensions 17 1/4 x 21 in.

Private Collection of a Lady, Raleigh, North Carolina

Bruce Roberts was an influential American photographer known for his work documenting political events and the Civil Rights movement in North Carolina. Beginning his career in the 1950s, he worked for newspapers such as the Hamlet News-Messenger and The Charlotte Observer, where he helped pioneer the use of 35mm cameras and natural light in photojournalism. He went on to become the Director of Photography and Senior Photographer at Southern Living Magazine, a position he held for more than a decade.

Roberts captured many key moments in North Carolina’s political life and Civil Rights protests, including powerful images of sit-ins at segregated lunch counters. His candid, documentary-style photography appeared in national outlets like LIFE, Time, and Sports Illustrated. He earned multiple honors, including being named Southern Photographer of the Year twice. In 2008, he published Just Yesterday in North Carolina, showcasing decades of life across the state. His photographic archive is preserved at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, cementing his legacy as a vital chronicler of the South during times of profound change.

Very good condition; a crisp sheet; three minor spots only visible in raking light.