Black Scranton Project documents history through stories, photos
Oct. 10—SCRANTON — Glynis Johns has made it her mission to bring more recognition to the Black community.
This weekend, Johns, founder and CEO of the Black Scranton Project, sought to learn more about area residents through a tintype and story collection event held Saturday and Sunday outside the nonprofit's headquarters on North Main Avenue.
"I'm interested in collecting photos and stories of the Black community, specifically, but of all of our friends and neighbors, too," Johns said. "I thought it would be a great way to entice the community to tell us their Scranton story so we can start creating our own narrative of our community, and the community that supports the Black Scranton Project and cares about archiving history and culture."
Johns was pleased with the turnout during the two-day event.
"We had a lot of diversity — different ages and races — and that's really cool to see," she said. "I'm happy we had all different types of people from all different backgrounds telling their story."
She was also excited to offer a unique opportunity by bringing in tintype photographer Rebecca Daniels to snap portraits of amazed guests.
"Seeing people's reactions to the vintage type of photography come to life in front of them isn't something we usually have the privilege of enjoying," Johns said.
Nicole Guzenski, 35, of Dunmore, stopped at the event Sunday afternoon to share her story and create a memory with her 2-year-old son, Henry.
"I used to do film photography, so I was aware of tintype, but I've never had one done," she said. "It was exciting, and it looks wonderful. I thought it was a great process."
Jenny Gonzalez, 31, of Scranton, raved about the mission of the Black Scranton Project while waiting to get a picture taken with her daughter, Liliana, 10.
"It's a group of people that is really making it a priority to highlight experiences, lifestyles, people and communities that traditionally have not been highlighted," she said. "It's super important, not only for the older generation and our generation, but the young ones growing up to see this."
After Daniels snapped each portrait, she retreated to a tent, her mobile darkroom, before emerging with the picture.
"From when I take the photo, it's a minute, maybe two minutes," she said. "The bulk of the time comes before that because you need to sensitize the plate for three to five minutes. It's a lot of waiting and then a lot of action really quick."
While people were enamored by the tintype photography — which was patented in the United States in 1856 — Daniels was impressed by the impact of the Black Scranton Project on the community.
"The thing that struck me the most is how important this organization is to so many people, and how much hope people find in the mere existence of it," she said.
Contact the writer:
570-348-9131; @rtomkavage on Twitter.
