Paul Kwilecki’s Photograph Collection at Duke University contains 583 black and white prints made in and around the town of Bainbridge, Georgia from 1960-2008. A self-taught photographer, Kwilecki honed his craft by photographing the broad spectrum of daily life manifested in Bainbridge and the rural areas of Decatur County. From the Shade Tobacco workers in the fields to the tombstones in the cemeteries and the emotional dramas played out in the Decatur County Courthouse, Kwilecki documented everything in an effort to capture and understand humanity. The collection of primarily 11×14 inch prints is organized into subject areas including: agriculture, architecture, county fairs, the Flint River, industry, neighborhoods, the Prom, religious life, shoppers, social events, stores, Willis Park and, workers.
(Copyright @ Paul Kwilecki Photographs, Archive of Documentary Arts, Duke University)