1900s African American Black Camp Cooks Food History Photo

  
Exceptional informational evidence that does not often find its way to market. Man at left wears a striped calico shirt & apron w/ a campaign hat and black boots. He stands beside a commercial stove (one of two) w/ a shoe shine box at this feet and possibly a barber's chair inside the tent. The man at right wears a matching apron, cook's hat & holds a dinner triangle. He stands between another commercial stove and the pots / pans (enamelware & cast iron) hanging from a tree. Diagonal shaving mirror hangs at the tent's center pole & hand painted NONE SUCH ALWAYS ON TIME sign. This may refer to a daily special served (possibly mincemeat pie). Both men suffer from motion blur / soft focus.

The photographer's eye was clearly on the cookware which has sharp definition. It is impossible to know if this is a logging / industrial labor camp or a military encampment, though many of their supplies do appear to be military surplus.

Sight size 3.75 x 4.75" on unevenly trimmed board (5 x 7").