LeDroit Park Photograph Collection

The LeDroit Park Photograph Collection is a limited edition of ten (10) 12" x 12" gelatin silver print photographs capturing the revitalized LeDroit Park and its surroundings, taken in 2003 by Steven M. Cummings. The LeDroit Park Initiative, spearheaded in the late 1990s by then-Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert and Ms. Jamie Gorelick, Vice Chair of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), aimed to renovate and redevelop Howard University-owned properties within the LeDroit Park area. The initiative also explored innovative mortgage rates and payment assistance programs to enhance homeownership opportunities for the university-affiliated and neighboring community. Notably, the initiative extended beyond LeDroit Park, addressing concerns related to the MacMillan Reservoir area, Howard University Hospital, and the Howard Theatre. The photographs in this collection showcase both the advancements and areas for improvement within the initiative. Steven M. Cummings, a renowned local photographer based in Washington D.C., frequently captures the essence of black life within the city, primarily through black and white imagery.

All permission to publish inquiries for photographs housed within the Manuscript Division are processed through the Prints and Photographs Department. To request information and to learn more about the collections please visit us at the MSRC Webpage. To view our collections digitally, please visit the Prints and Photographs Digital Collections. Any photograph collections that are present on Digital Howard will not be pulled for appointments as they are readily available for viewing on our website.