A Pictorial History of the Black Community in St. Augustine & St. Johns County

A Pictorial History of the Black Community is presented by the St. Augustine Historical Society from June 1st through September 15th on the second floor of the Tovar House

Over the last several years, photographer Lenny Foster’s engagement with Black historical sites in St. Augustine and members of the Black community have formed the basis for the several growing bodies of work included in his solo exhibition In the Spirit of Lincolnville. Paying homage to this community, the artist calls attention to the people, architecture, and notable events that transpired along the streets of Lincolnville.

Founded in 1866 by formerly enslaved people, the township has long been a prominent historically Black neighborhood. The photo series Porch Portraits includes photographs of long-time Black residents of Lincolnville, each of whom has experienced our rapidly changing city over the past half-century.

Where Dreams Became Memories features structures of architectural importance to the area, and Where We Stand marks sites where significant events have occurred. The works included in this exhibition are part legacy and part preservation and reflect Foster’s vested interest in preserving the lives and legacy of Lincolnville.

The Lincolnville Museum’s collection of works from photographers Richard Twine and John Jackson inspired Foster to begin his Porch Portraits series. Twine was a professional photographer who captured Lincolnville during the 1920s. Jackson, the father of Thomas Jackson – the current and first African American President of the St. Augustine Historical Society, documented daily life in Lincolnville and West Augustine from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Most recently Theresa Segal, a long-time Lincolnville resident and photographer who has recorded the changes Lincolnville has undergone since the early 1980s, has become an inspiration to Foster. The work Foster has produced have not only informed an understanding of his own African American heritage but have expanded his understanding of the resilience and vibrancy of St. Augustine’s longstanding Black community throughout its long history.