I picked up a copy of Elvatrice Belsches’ 2002 book Richmond Virginia (Black America Series) this weekend at the East End library. While the 120-page book has photos from around Richmond, it seems as that a good half or more of the book is from Jackson Ward.

The 10 chapters of photos include buildings, events, and portraiture (including a young Doug Wilder, and a stunning photo of 95-year-old Edward R. Carter - the only Reconstruction-era councilman who lived to see Oliver Hill elected in 1948). The book is fascinating for the history that is overlaid on almost every building in Jackson Ward, but equally wrenching as many of the buildings are gone or continue to decline (Elks Lodge, Hotel Eggleston, the Hippodrome) and the six years since the publication have taken their human toll as well.

Belsches’ book makes a great visual companion to Selden Richardson’s 2006 publication Built by Blacks. He gives more of the history, while her’s provides much more rich visual detail. Another great companion piece is the 1907 publication Souvenir views: Negro enterprise & residences, Richmond, Va. (the source for a few of the photos in Belsches’ book), though I’ve never actually seen this in print.

PHOTOS: (FIRST) Former home of the American Beneficial Insurance Company, 600 block of Second Street; (SECOND) North First Street from Leigh Street