Thomas E. Askew

Biography

Thomas E. Askew was a pioneer African American photographer whose dignified portraits captured the aspirations and accomplishments of the Black community in Atlanta. His quiet professionalism and mastery of the camera earned him the trust of families, ministers, and civic leaders who sought to preserve their likenesses with care and grace.

Askew worked to document a people on the move, using his studio to affirm beauty and resilience even in challenging times. He now rests in Oakland Cemetery, leaving behind an indelible visual record of an important era.