Archive

 

In 2014 the Briscoe Center for American History in Austin, Texas acquired the Spider Martin Civil Rights Collection’s 35mm negative archive of the Selma to Montgomery March for preservation and educational and academic research. The Briscoe Center is the single most significant and largest archive of American photojournalism in existence. In addition to the Selma March photos, Spider Martin’s archive includes the Viola Liuzzo Murder Trial and the 1968 Presidential Campaign of Alabama governor George Wallace during the Texas leg. About taking the assignment to cover George Wallace, Spider said he wouldn't vote for him but he’d take his money because he knew it was going to be historic.

“It is largely because of [Martin’s] talent that we, as a people and a nation, so vividly remember ‘Bloody Sunday.’ Although violence broke out at many other places, and on many other days, the images from this critical day are forever emblazoned in the public consciousness.”

—Andrew Young, 1992

Spider takes his selfie in front of the Alabama State Capitol with the 25,000 people demanding their right to vote at the climax of the Selma to Montgomery March on March 25, 1965.

Spider takes his selfie in front of the Alabama State Capitol with 25,000 people demanding their right to vote at the climax of the Selma to Montgomery March on March 25, 1965.