Medium
black-and-white photographs, photographs

Date of Original
1893/1975

Subject
Jenkins, Herbert T.
Police--Georgia--Atlanta
African American police--Georgia--Atlanta
Police chiefs--Georgia--Atlanta
Riots--Georgia--Atlanta
Neighborhood--Georgia--Atlanta
Police--Uniforms--Georgia--Atlanta--History--19th century
United States. Kerner Commission
African Americans--Civil rights--Georgia--Atlanta
Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Allen, Ivan, 1911-
Mayors--Georgia--Atlanta
Police training--Georgia--Atlanta
Atlanta (Ga.). Police Dept.
Atlanta (Ga.)--Police--History
Race riots--Georgia--Atlanta

Location
United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.7489954, -84.3879824

Type
StillImage

Description
The collection consists of photographs connected with Herbert Jenkins; the bulk of the collection documents Jenkins' professional career. Images of note include 30 photographs of the Summerhill race riot (1966); First Community Officers (1968); Negro School Traffic Policewomen (1950); and the first African-American patrolmen (1948)., Herbert Turner Jenkins (20 March 1907 - 20 July 1990) was born in Lithonia GA and became an Atlanta police officer at the age of 24. On 2 February 1947, Mayor William B. Hartsfield appointed him chief of police, a position he held until 1972. During the 1960s, Jenkins worked closely with Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr., to ensure Atlanta's safety during times of racial and social unrest. It is generally believed that Jenkins' approach, to accommodate civil rights activists, spared Atlanta from the serious riots seen in other cities. In 1967, Jenkins was the only Southerner named by President Lyndon Johnson to the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. His wife Margie Mason Jenkins died in February 1987; together they had two sons, James and Herbert Jenkins, Jr.

Original Collection
Herbert T. Jenkins photographs, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center.

Rights