Groundsite Image Gallery
Langston Hughes and James W. Reed
Artist: Hughes, Langston
Height: 0.000"
Width: 0.000"
Left: 731 New York St.(?) Langston Hughes and James W. Reed (?)
This photograph of Langston Hughes may have been taken at 731 New York St., home of Mary and James W. Reed.
Hughes lived with the Reeds during the late fall of 1915, as he completed seventh grade at Central School. In this photograph, he does appear to be around age 13, consistent with other details. Hughes and the older man are dressed formally, for church, school, or some other daytime occasion. This could be James W. Reed, though he did not attend church, but rather washed his overalls every Sunday morning (a grievous sin) in a big iron pot in the back yard, and then just sat and smoked his pipe under the grape arbor (Big Sea 18).