FOUND

Found is an archive of photographs of Black women—discovered at flea markets, on Etsy, buried in family collections, and more. Our purpose for collecting these is to preserve and document the lives of Black women, especially through vernacular photographs which have been separated from their original owners and subjects. As we approach this archival work, we continually wrestle with questions of ownership and publication and recognize the history of exploitation of Black bodies—on film, online, and in real life.

Whenever come across a photo and cannot identify the subject, we honor her by giving her a name. Because the Transatlantic Slave Trade robbed our ancestors and descendants of language, cultural heritage, family members and their given names, it is our way of reclaiming and honoring their stories.

If you recognize any of the subjects of these photos or have knowledge of their families, please reach out to us. We are committed to returning these photographs to their rightful owners whenever possible.