Morgan and Marvin Smith, identical twins, were born in 1910 in Kentucky and developed an early interest in art and photography. They moved to Harlem in 1933 and studied art with Augusta Savage. In 1937 Morgan was hired as the first staff photographer for the "New York Amsterdam News," a position he held until 1939. That same year the brothers opened a photo studio, which they called the M. Smith Studio, next door to Harlem's renowned Apollo Theater on 125 Street. The twins photographed such legendary figures as Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington, Eartha Kitt, Pablo Picasso, and Albert Einstein. They took photographs for African-American magazines such as "Color," "Ebony," "Opportunity," and "Life," as well as photographs for print advertisements which appeared in magazines and newspapers.
In 1942 Marvin enlisted in the Navy with the 34th Seabees, and served as Chief Photographer's Mate in the South Pacific. Between 1950-1952 he studied art in Paris with Ferdinand Leger. While Marvin was in the Navy, Morgan set up a photography studio in New York and experimented with sound recordings in the studio. By 1954 both brothers were working in the television and film industry, Morgan working for ABC and Marvin for NBC. They closed the studio in 1968, retired from their television positions in 1974, and in their seventies resumed an interest in needlework crafts. Interest in their photographs was sparked in the 1980's with exhibitions of their work, a book and a documentary film. Morgan died at age 83 in 1993, and Marvin passed away ten years later.
From the description of Morgan and Marvin Smith papers, 1931-1999. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 84613970
