To the Editor:

In the summer of 2022, after hearing a riveting Joint Effort lecture led by Jennifer Garcon, Princeton University’s Librarian for Modern and Contemporary Special Collections, on photography and legacy, the Rev. Gregory Smith contacted his “brother friends” Lance Liverman and Charles Phox to discuss the idea of creating a photography camp in honor of the celebrated local son and photographer, Romus Broadway. The committee grew to include Iona Harding, Jennifer Garcon, and Shirley Satterfield. Together, they forged a proposal to create a camp that would teach the fundamentals of photography combining the history of the Witherspoon-Jackson community. The camp was later endorsed by the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society whose mission is to research, preserve, understand, appreciate, and celebrate the rich and proud history of African Americans in Princeton, New Jersey.

Asha Weal and Ryshawn Cooper, both photographers who are direct descendants of the community, joined to build a photography curriculum aimed to foster students between the ages of 12 and 15 that have an interest in photography and an appreciation for the Witherspoon-Jackson community.

Over the course of the nine-day camp, June 20–30 at the Princeton University Carl Fields Center, students will learn photographic techniques on digital cameras and take photos to be used to sustain our rich and diverse community and culture. The camp will meet from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Our planning committee has grown to include Brittany Waller (marketing) and Moriah Akrong (camp program coordinator). The camp is grateful to the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, Princeton University, and the many generous donors who have given their time and resources to fully sponsor the students and to make this camp a soon-to-be-reality.

There is still time to get more information, register, and to sponsor a child by emailing romusbroadwaysummercamp@gmail.com.

Lance Liverman
Witherspoon Street

Iona Harding
Fisher Avenue