Charles Franklin Moss

On Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at noon, Ruth Hodge, a retired archivist from the Pennsylvania State Archives will talk about the life and work of Charles Franklin Moss. Moss was a turn of the century African-American artist and photographer. Ms. Hodge will chronicle the 83-year life of Charles Moss, a man of multiple artistic talents and accomplishments. The program will be held at 21 North Pitt Street, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Please call (717) 249-7610 for more details. This lecture is in conjunction with our exhibit An Enduring Gaze: The Portraits of Cumberland County which is now through October 31, 2009 supported by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

Charles Franklin Moss (1878-1961) is believed to be the first African-American inducted into the National Association of Professional Photographers. Moss was a graduate of the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art. He was in business in Carlisle for about twenty years starting around 1908.

This activity and exhibit has been generously supported in part by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, the Federal-State Partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Visit the newest exhibit at the Cumberland County Historical Society entitled An Enduring Gaze: The Portraits of Cumberland County. This exhibit will be free to the public and will run from now until Saturday, October 31, 2009. It will feature the evolution from early portraiture until today’s digital images. Some of the portraits will include: a self-portrait of prolific local artist Holmead Philips, a newly conserved portrait of President Thomas Jefferson, Admiral John Berrien Montgomery, and a scandalous 1920s flapper.


The Cumberland County Historical Society is an active history center with an award winning museum, library, photo archives, educational center, museum shop, and historic Two Mile House. The Historical Society’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and promote research of Cumberland County history. Anyone interested in local history is invited to become a member. Call 249-7610 or visit our web site http://www.historicalsociety.com/ for more information and to see the museum virtual tour. Cumberland County Historical Society is located at 21 North Pitt Street, in Carlisle Pennsylvania. Hours are Monday 3 to 9 pm, Tuesday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturday 10 am to 3 pm. Admission to the museum is free.

More on Franklin Moss at AfroLumens.