Linda Erf Swift Photographs
Scope and Contents
This collection contains six color portraits, exhibit captions and a text panel from The Chalkboard Project, 2015.
Dates
- 2015
Creator
- Swift, Linda Erf (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.
Biographical / Historical
From 2007 to 2015, Linda Erf Swift photographed students from three Chicago high schools in the Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhoods. The goal of her Chalkboard Project was to generate dialog between students and awareness about their communities, schools and lives. Each student posed before a chalkboard with their favorite quote. "The Chalkboard Project: Teens and Quotes" was exhibited at the Harold Washington Library Center in 2015.
Before turning to photography, Swift raised her family and worked as a teacher and social worker. Her commitment to community engagement included assistance programs for families, teens and inmates in the Cook County Department of Corrections. In addition, Swift has been active in such social justice initiatives as civil rights, education and women's equality. She credits these experiences as the inspiration behind her photography. “I am particularly interested in giving voice and image to those not often heard from.”
Swift received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2011.
Extent
1 Oversize Folders (includes 6 photographs, 6 captions and 1 exhibition panel)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
From 2007 to 2015, Linda Erf Swift photographed students from three Chicago high schools in the Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhoods. The goal of her Chalkboard Project was to generate dialog between students and awareness about their communities, schools and lives. This collection contains six color portraits, exhibit captions and a text panel from the 2015 exhibition at Harold Washington Library Center.
Arrangement
The photographs and corresponding captions are arranged alphabetically by students’ first name.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Linda E. Swift, 2016
- High school students -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Photographs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Hyde Park (Chicago, Ill.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Kenwood (Chicago, Ill.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Linda Erf Swift Photographs
- Author
- Debra Orellana
- Date
- 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center Repository
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875
specoll@chipublib.org