Kamoinge Workshop

The Kamoinge Workshop is a photography collective that was founded in 1963. In 2013, the group stood as “the longest continuously running non-profit group in the history of photography.” The collective was born when two groups of African-American photographers came together in collaboration. The first group, named Kamoinge was founded by Louis Draper, James "Jimmie" Mannas, Al Fennar, and Herbert Randall. The second group, named Group 35 consisted of photographers Ray Francis, Earl Jones, Louis Draper, Herman Howard, Calvin Mercer, and Mel Dixon. Louis Draper was especially crucial to its founding. The first director of the group was Roy DeCarava, who led the collective from 1963 to 1965.