[African-American Photographica]: [Cobb, Tara]:

[Vernacular Photograph Album Documenting the High School Life of an African-American Woman in the 1980s, with Music-Related Content].

[Elmont, New York: 1980s]. [36] leaves, illustrated with 143 color vernacular photographs, plus several ephemeral items, in self-stick album sheets. Large quarto. Contemporary three-ring binder bound in crimson textured cloth with gilt ruling. Minor edge wear and some rubbing, short split to top of spine cloth. Contents sound. Very good. Item #3447

A nice photographic record of a young African-American woman's experiences during her high school years in the New York area. The photographs memorialize Tara Cobb of Elmont, New York in stylized poses, in and out of school, posed with young men, family, and groups of school friends during leisure time, going to the beach, attending a wedding, and more, with numerous shots of Cobb and her friends posing in Glamour Shots-style portraits. In addition to the photographs, the album contains ephemeral items from her school life and a couple of music concerts she attended at the time. Chief among these is a page of notebook paper with the autographs of each member of the music group Bell Biv Devoe from 1987 (Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe).

The album also includes a few ephemeral items related to Kiss 98.7 FM (including a letter from the station when she won the "Secret Song" contest), as well as two ticket stubs for Madison Square Garden concerts by Keith Sweat, Bell Biv Devoe, and J. Gill; and New Edition. The album also includes the commencement program for Cobb's 1990 graduation from Elmont Memorial High School. A wonderful record of a young African-American woman's life in high school in late-80s New York.

Price: $350