Working for a Living

Marion Butts CollectionDallas Public Library

1946One of the locations of the Powell Hotel, the first black-owned hotel in Dallas. During segregation, hotels that served African Americans were often located in houses in residential areas.

1946

Dave's Place, showing the front entrance and parking area.

1946Newsstand at P. J. Service Station, with Applause Magazine, published in Dallas by Don Gilbert on display - the top magazine facing to the front

1946Denmon's Pies proprietor Fred Eugene Denmon, left, with an unidentified woman, surrounded by pies. Denmon’s Bakery was located at 3203 Marsh.

1946View outside Lawson Cleaners with the company’s delivery vehicle in front of the store. Lawson had two Dallas locations, one at 1915 Allen, and the other at 4719 Myrtle.

1946An employee inside Lawson Cleaners works with a garment on an ironing board.

1946Henderson and Wren Funeral Home building, located at 2112 N. Washington, with attendants and hearses (which they referred to as “rolling stock) outside

1946Taxi belonging to the Pride of Dallas Cab Company, gets service at P. J. Service Station

1947An interior view of the Cimota Beauty Salon, located at 2109-2111 Allen Street, which sold hair grooming products and wigs in addition to its traditional beauty services.

1947Newsboys and girls in front of the Progressive News offices. The company was owned by G.I. Aid Society, Raymond Rogers, President.

1947The front of Dillard's Variety Store, with building supplies in front of the windows. Dillards had two Dallas locations, one in West Dallas at 1805 Singleton Boulevard, and the other in East Dallas at 4904 Spring Avenue. The owners were E. C. Dillard and J. C. Dillard.

1946Interior of Dillard's Variety Store, with shoppers browsing the aisles

1947Inside William Madison McDonald's Fraternal Bank and Trust on the first floor of the Fort Worth Masonic Temple, located at 9th and Jones in Fort Worth. Fraternal Bank and Trust was an African-American owned private bank that survived the Great Depression.

1947Lott's Funeral Home was located at 2200 Thomas Street. Shown here are five hearses from the company with attendants and funeral home personnel standing beside the cars.

1947Jack's Service Station and Garage, with owner Jack Wright washing a car.

1947Eighth Street Drug Store owners, Mr. and Mrs. Ines Jones, stand behind the cash register inside the store.

1947Ross Graves Café in Deep Elm (Deep Ellum). A woman behind cash register assists a man at the counter.

1949Damage done to the Good Will Barber Shop located at 2207 Hall Street

1952An early opportunity for a cashier at Quicky Food Stores

1960Foster Kilgore, butcher for Rains Supermarkert, at work at the meat slicer. R. C. Rains owned this local chain of grocery stores and placed his first store in the State Thomas neighborhood.

1960John Runnels of Kissin' Radio (KKSN 730) playing records in the studio

1961Marion Butts, Sr., editor of the Dallas Express newspaper at his desk in the Express offices

1962R.C. Hickman, manager of the Continental Bowling Lanes in West Dallas offers a bowling ball to woman in the crowded bowling alley. Mr. Hickman was also a photographer.

1963Mr. & Mrs. Sherfield in front of the butcher case in their grocery store. He holds a chicken, and she holds a ham.

1963Inside the automotive bay at the new B.F. Goodrich Tire Co. on Forest Ave.

1966Women shop at the Mallory Hat Shop

1965Madame C. J. Walker Beauty College students model wigs

1964Chuck Banks, Lark Club Bartender. The Lark Club was a jazz club located at 3113 Grand Avenue, and it featured artists such as David “Fat Head” Newman.

1971Employees of the Morris & Wells Mobil Service Station stand by the gas pump