Emmett Till Funeral Kiosk: Image Descriptions
Image 1
Image 1 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Emmett’s mother defied Mississippi authorities and had her son’s body shipped back to Chicago on the train. “They were not going to bury my boy in Mississippi. He would be coming home.”
—Mamie Till Mobley
Photo Credit:
J. Parker Lamb, Collection of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is an outdoor, industrial area in a rail yard or train station. It is sunny with strong shadows on the ground. An Illinois Central train, number 4035, comes to a stop at the center of the photo. The engine dominates the center of the composition while cargo cars connected to the engine can be seen further down the tracks, which curve to the left edge of the photograph. The tracks proceed from the train toward the lower right corner of the photo. The train is pulling into the station, which is partially seen at the right. A Black man in a conductor’s hat motions toward the train from the platform of the station just right of the train. A White man also stands on the platform to the right of the train, but further away and is partially shaded by the platform roof. He holds a small paper in both hands. He appears to be looking toward the camera. A large metal structure, presumably a water tower, rises in the background behind the platform. The tower and train are darker in tone and contrast with the lighter tone of the sky, which composes the upper half of the photo.
Image 2
Image 2 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Emmett’s mother collapsed when his body arrived at the Chicago train station on Sept. 2, 1955.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, STM-092678138, Dave Mann/Chicago Sun-Times
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is indoors at the receiving dock of the funeral home. At the center of the photo, Mamie Till-Mobley collapses to the ground while four Black men in suits kneel with her to comfort and support her. Mamie, with her eyes closed, is looking up and crying in anguish. The man to the left of Mamie supports her arm in one hand and holds his hat on his knee with the other. He is looking upon Mamie. The two men behind Mamie look upon her as well. The fourth man kneeling to the right of Mamie grasps her wrist with one hand and wraps his other arm around Mamie. He is looking down with his eyes closed. The group is kneeling beside a cart with steel wheels. The cart is at the right edge of the photo. On the cart is the sealed shipping casket in which Emmett’s body was transported to Chicago on the train. At the back of the cart, in the background of the photo, a White man can be seen looking upon the group of five kneeling in the foreground. Another Black woman at the top left of the photo, and behind the group of five kneeling, can be seen with a vacant stare in the direction of the group.
Image 3
Image 3 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Emmett’s body was delivered in a sealed casket to the A. A. Rayner Funeral Home on Sept. 2, 1955.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, ST-17600655, Chicago Sun-Times Collection
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is a loading dock with men gathered around observing the unloading of Emmett’s sealed casket. At the center of the photo, five White men surround the casket containing Emmett’s body. They work together to unload the casket from a hearse. The casket is partially removed from the back of the vehicle and the men work together to hold its weight. Two of the men, at the middle right of the photo, look away from the camera toward the casket and vehicle. Both men have pencils tucked above their left ears. The man closest to the camera has folded papers in his back left pocket along with another pencil. The man closest to the camera in the lower left of the photo is wearing a cap and workman’s gloves. Only the head and shoulders of the other two men can be seen as the casket obscures them from the camera. Behind the hearse and in the top left of the photo, seven Black men and one White man watch as the casket is unloaded. The Black men all stand in the shade of the building while sunlight illuminates the figure of the White man who is wearing a brimmed hat. At the right edge of the photo, another White man in glasses and a suit are watching as well.
Image 4
Image 4 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Mamie Till-Mobley invited journalist David Jackson to photograph Emmett’s body at the funeral home. These images were provided to national and international press outlets.
Photo Credit:
Description:
Grainy black and white photograph. The scene is of a small room at the funeral home. At the left-center of the close-up photo stands a Black man, David Jackson, in glasses with a camera. He stands nearly against the wall with a window over his left shoulder (to the right in the photograph). He is peering downward into the view finder of the camera and we can see the top of his head. His hands cradle the camera, held near his stomach, as he is taking a picture. The photo is cropped just below the photographer’s waist, so we cannot see Emmett’s body which he is photographing. In the windowsill to his left, instruments can be seen, but they are not in focus. There is a machine in the corner of the small room, yet it too is not in focus.
Image 5
Image 5 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
On Sept. 2, 1955, a large crowd gathered outside the A.A. Rayner Funeral Home where Emmett’s body was prepared for his funeral and burial.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, ST-17600664, Chicago Sun-Times Collection
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is outdoors at night on a city street. The photo is taken from an elevated vantage point across the street from the A.A. Rayner funeral home. The name of the funeral home is affixed to the building near the entrance at the center of the photo. In the lower half and foreground of the photo a large crowd gathers around the funeral home building. The crowd extends beyond the edges of the photo. Most of the crowd is composed of Black men, women, and some children. People at the bottom of the photo look up at the camera and we can see their faces. However, most of the crowd faces toward the building. The building is one-story with windows on either side of the entrance. Above each window is a bright lamp that illuminates the lightly toned brick of the façade as well as the crowd near the building. The upper third of the photo shows the dark of night with city lights in the distance.
Image 6
Image 6 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Emmett’s funeral was held on Sept. 3, 1955, at Roberts Temple Church of God
in Christ. Two thousand people filled every seat in the church. Several thousand more heard the service through loud-speakers set up outside.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, DN-R-4827, Chicago Daily News Collection
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is outdoors during the day on a city street. The photo is taken from an elevated vantage point across the street from the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. The three-story church building dominates the upper half of the photo. At the center of the photo is the name of the church affixed to the building with a large crowd gathered below. The crowd spills into half of the street. They surround parked vehicles that will be part of the funeral procession. In the lower third of the photo cars travel the street. The crowd is mostly Black men and women wearing fine clothing.
Image 7
Image 7 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, stopped at his casket the day of the funeral, Sept. 3, 1955.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, ST-17500641-E1, Chicago Sun-Times Collection
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is inside the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. Mamie Till-Mobley is centered in the photo as she gazes upon the casket and body of her son, Emmett Till. The casket lid is open in the lower right corner of the photo, obscuring the camera’s full view of Emmett’s body. A Black man in a fine suit standing behind Mamie embraces her and offers support. Another man to her right (left of center in the photo), also in a suit, holds Mamie’s hand and arm. All three look upon the open casket. Mamie is tearful. A third man standing behind Mamie holds a camera evidenced by its large flash bulb. A crowd of many people can be seen in the upper quarter of the photo surrounding the cluster of four standing at the casket.
Image 8
Image 8 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Robert’s Temple stayed open for visitation from Sept. 3–6 as mourners waited in long lines to enter the church.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, ST-17600660, Chicago Sun-Times Collection
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is along the sidewalk of the street on which Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ is situated. In the distance, at the middle left of the photo, a cross-shaped sign protruding from the church exterior can be seen. From the church sign to the foreground and lower right of the photo a long line of many people waits to enter the church. Most of the people face away from the camera in the direction the line is heading toward the church. A Black woman and child can be seen heading the opposite direction at the lower right corner of the photo. Also facing opposite the crowd, a Black police officer walks toward the camera observing the crowd. To the left of the photo two other Black men and two Black women walk near the sidewalk’s edge toward the camera as well. At the very left edge of the photo, parked cars can be seen along the curb. The upper half of the photo shows the buildings along the street they share with the church.
Image 9
Image 9 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Inside Robert’s Temple, 100,000 people (or more) filed past Emmett’s open casket. They were overcome with grief.
Photo Credit:
AP Photo/File
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is inside Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. The vantage point is elevated above mourners paying their respects as they pass by Emmett’s open casket. The casket is framed in the lower middle of the photo. At the head of the casket stands a woman in a nurse’s uniform looking over her shoulder toward the camera. Emmett’s body can be seen in the photo. There is a piece of glass across the opening of the casket. Two photos of Emmett hang within the open lid of the casket. Twelve people can be seen observing Emmett’s body while others wait in line after them. The line heads off the edge of the photo to the right, then emerges again right to left in the upper third of the photo. To the left and right of the casket, many flower arrangements are displayed. On a platform above the casket, a man sits at a small lectern, draped in shiny cloth. The man is leaning his arm on the lectern with that hand gesturing toward the casket. To his left, four women also sit and look upon the line of mourners.
Image 10
Image 10 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
The day of Emmett’s burial, Sept. 6, 1955, mourners filled
Robert’s Temple.
Photo Credit:
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is inside Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. The vantage point is from the balcony of the sanctuary toward the now closed casket of Emmett Till. The church is full. In the lower third of the photo, mourners sit facing away from the camera and toward the casket. In the upper third, mourners sit in the choir loft facing the camera and casket. The casket is in the middle third. Floral wreaths stand to the left and right of the casket along with a police officer with cap in hand at either side of the casket. Two women walk toward the casket up the aisle. On a platform behind the casket, a man stands at a low lectern draped in shiny cloth. His hands are folded together as he looks down at the lectern. In the upper right of the photo is a side balcony full of mourners.
Image 11
Image 11 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
A woman wiped tears from Mamie’s eyes inside the church on Sept. 6, 1955.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, ST-17600661, Chicago Sun-Times Collection
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is a close up of Mamie Till-Mobley inside Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. Mamie’s eyes are closed as a woman in a nurse’s uniform wipes tears from her eye. Mamie, in an ornate hat, is seated facing the camera with her hands folded in her lap. Seated on Mamie’s right, Emmett’s grandmother, Alma Carthan, has her eyes closed. Her elbow lays upon the arm rest between her and Mamie. The hand of her bent arm holds up her head as she sits with a weary look on her face. In the row behind them a man in fine clothes and brimmed hat sits looking directly at the camera and a woman in a white dress and hat sits with her eyes closed. Others can be seen sitting around them but are out of range of the flash or out of focus.
Image 12
Image 12 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Pallbearers carried Emmett’s casket out of the church on Sept. 6, 1955, for the burial service.
Photo Credit:
Chicago Tribune/Getty Images
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is outside the open doors of Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. Eight Black men carry an ornate casket out through the doors of the church. They show solemn faces, wearing suits, ties, and white gloves. They walk between two rows of uniformed police officers. The officers are mostly White, but a Black officer is visible in the background at the rear of the casket. On the left side of the photo, one White officer looks directly at the camera. He has a revolver on his hip. The brightness of the police officers’ shirts stands out against the mostly dark and somber tones of the remaining people in the crowd. There are stands of flowers outside the doors, but they are obscured by the crowd. Above the crowd on the building’s façade a painted sign bears the name of the church.
Image 13
Image 13 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
A large crowd waited outside the church as Emmett’s casket left for the burial service.
Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Chicago Sun-Times File
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is outside the open doors of Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. The vantage point is above a large crowd of Black and White men and women gathered to see Emmett’s casket transported to the hearse parked near the sidewalk. There are so many people, they obscure the sidewalk from the camera. The hearse is at the middle left of the photo. Eight Black men carry the casket out the doors of the church at the right of the photo. Armed police officers, both Black and White, are lined up and holding a path from the church doors to the hearse. A painted sign hangs on the side of the building above the crowd with the name of the church along with a hand-painted sign announcing a meeting of the International Board of Foreign Bishops and Overseers of the Churches of God in Christ. The building and signs compose the upper third of the photo while the crowd surrounds the path and hearse in the lower two-thirds. At the bottom of the photo, a Black police officer can be seen with his arms raised shoulder high in order to halt traffic on the street.
Image 14
Image 14 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Several men carried the casket to the gravesite at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Ill.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, ST-17600576, Chicago Sun-Times Collection
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is outdoors at the gravesite for Emmett’s burial. The open grave can be seen in the lower left of the photo. There are floral arrangements beside the grave along with a mechanism for lowering the casket. At the center of the photo four Black men in workman’s clothes carry the casket adorned with a floral arrangement toward the open grave. Around the men carrying the casket, a crowd of mostly Black men and women look on. There are four women in nurse’s uniforms in the scene, two in the foreground at the right edge of the photo and two more to the left of the photo. One of them walks alongside Emmett’s grandmother, Alma Carthan, holding her arm in support. The upper quarter of the photo is filled with sky and smaller trees.
Image 15
Image 15 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Clergy comfort one another during burial service.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, ST-17600130, Chicago Sun-Times Collection
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is outdoors near the gravesite for Emmett’s burial. The photo is a close-up of three Black men dressed in black suits and white collars (like that of clergymen), and one White man. The White man embraces one of the Black men who returns the embrace. The White man’s eyes are closed as he is sobbing. The Black man appears to be speaking to console the White man. The two occupy the left half of the photo. To the right in the photo, another Black man is standing near them. He is looking off to the left, the subject of his gaze is off camera. However, his arm is caressing the back of the White man’s head. He also appears to be speaking to console him. The fourth man is standing behind the two men embracing and we can only see his face. He is speaking while looking directly at the camera.
Image 16
Image 16 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Emmett’s mother, grandmother Alma Carthan (arm upraised), grandfather John Carthan (in hat), and other family grieved during the burial service at Burr Oak Cemetery on Sept. 6, 1955.
Photo Credit:
Chicago History Museum, ST-17600662, Chicago Sun-Times Collection
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is outdoors at the graveside during Emmett’s burial service. The vantage point is from below waistline looking up at a group of people. The photograph focuses on Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, and his grandmother, Alma Carthan. Mamie clutches a glove and tissues with her left hand while her ungloved right hand extends to grasp a Black man’s hand beside her. Mamie is crying and tears stream down her cheeks. Alma is also crying; her eyes are closed and mouth grimacing. Her right arm is raised toward the sky with an open hand. Both women wear ornate hats and black dresses. To the right in the photo, a child in a fine suit looks down, presumably toward the casket which is below the frame. Emmett’s grandfather, John Carthan, stands behind the child with his eyes closed. Two nurses stand behind Mamie and Alma peering down toward the casket. Behind the nurses, a White man with a white clerical collar is seen looking directly at the camera with a distraught expression.
Image 17
Image 17 - Caption and Photo Credit
Caption:
Mamie Till-Mobley mourned over her son’s casket during the burial at Burr Oak Cemetery.
Photo Credit:
Bettman/ Getty Images
Description:
Black and white photograph. The scene is outdoors at the graveside during Emmett’s burial service. The vantage point is at head height with the camera positioned opposite the grave from Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, and his grandmother, Alma Carthan. The lower third of the photo shows Emmett’s casket partially in the grave. The casket is being lowered into the grave. At the center and upper two-thirds of the photo, Mamie is doubled over in anguish. A clergyman places his hand on her back to console her. To the right of her in the photo, Emmett’s grandmother, Alma, can be seen looking down at the casket with her right arm raised out over the casket. She wears black dress gloves. A child stands next to Alma and peers toward Mamie. Two nurses stand behind Mamie and lay their hands on her back to console her. There are more people gathered behind them. The photograph only partially shows their faces and hats as there are so many people gathered. All faces in the scene are very somber.