Foy McCarty from the collection of Black Artists Archive

Foy McCarty, 1943

Foy McCarty, c. 1943

fiber-based photographic paper

Inv: 2026.009

Studio portrait printed on fiber-based photographic paper with a matte surface, exhibiting painterly tonal qualities typical of mid-20th-century photographic processes.

Scope/Content:
Foy McCarty is pictured here as a young man during a brief period of military service in the U.S. Army. Born and raised in Kentucky, McCarty worked as a coal miner in the Lynch, Kentucky coal camps before migrating to Detroit. Seeking opportunity beyond the extractive labor of the mines, he enlisted in the Army, though his service was short-lived. After approximately nine months, he was honorably discharged due to physical unfitness, having fallen severely ill following the physical demands of boot camp, including tear gas training.

This photograph captures McCarty at a pivotal moment—between rural labor, military service, and a storied life in Detroit—reflecting the precarious paths navigated by many Black working-class men in the early 20th century. His life and materials preserved in the Foy and Emma Lee McCarty Family Collection speak to broader histories of labor, migration, and resilience that shaped Black life in America.

From Black Artists Archive

Foy McCarty's Personalized License Plate, 1985

Metal

6.25 x 12.25 in
Dudley Randall

For Vivian, 1982

cardstock

11 x 8.5 in
Donna Summer

Four Seasons of Love, 1976

Vinyl
Donna Summer

Four Seasons of Love, 1976

Vinyl
Margaret Walker

For My People, 1968

paper

8 x 5 in
Nolan Strong and the Diablos

Fortune of Hits Vol 2, 1964

Vinyl
Foy McCarty's Discharge Papers from the U.S. Army, 1943

printed paper
Foy & Emma McCarty -- A Night Out

standard photographic paper w/ semi-gloss finish

View All Artworks

Additional Details

Additional Artworks

Foy McCarty's Personalized License Plate, 1985

For Vivian, 1982

Four Seasons of Love, 1976

Four Seasons of Love, 1976

For My People, 1968

Fortune of Hits Vol 2, 1964

Foy McCarty's Discharge Papers from the U.S. Army, 1943

Foy & Emma McCarty -- A Night Out