The Harlem Book of the Dead

by James Van Der Zee, Owen Dodson and Camille Billops

Originally published in 1978, The Harlem Book of the Dead is a haunting and beautiful document of Black funerary traditions in Harlem, which captures the community’s mourning rituals through the lens of one of the Harlem Renaissance’s most celebrated photographers. These portraits are complimented and captioned by poems from Owen Dodson; a wide-ranging interview with Van Der Zee by the sculptor and filmmaker Camille Billops, who conceptualized and edited the publication; and a foreword by acclaimed writer Toni Morrison.

Paperback, 108 pages.

Dimensions: 9 x 10.5 in.

'The Harlem Book of the Dead' was co-created by three tremendously talented artists. James Van Der Zee (June 29, 1886 – May 15, 1983) was a celebrated studio and portrait photographer based in Harlem. Owen Dodson (November 28, 1914 – June 21, 1983) was a professor best known for his work in poetry and drama. Camille Billops (August 12, 1933 – June 1, 2019) was a sculptor, photographer, and archivist of Black American culture.