People of Gaston Exhibit
In 2020, we brought you People of Gaston as a social media project that called upon the residents of Gaston County to help identify the individuals in our Ennis Atkins Photograph Collection. In July of 2021 we took this project a step further and created the People of Gaston Exhibit. Now we are excited to bring you the People of Gaston Exhibit virtually! This exhibit features 13 Gaston County residents of different ages, backgrounds and professions throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. We need your help to collect as much information as possible on these individuals including names, relationships, city of residence and more. With your help, we hope to bridge the gap in information from the history of our county and learn more about the people who called this place home.
The Ennis Atkins Collection tells the story of Gaston County through a photographic lens. With photographs spanning over 30 years, the Ennis Atkins Collection captures what it means to be a Gaston County resident from celebrations and performances, to everyday scenes of work and play. A native of Gaston County, Mr. Ennis Woodall Atkins was educated in Gastonia before attending Duke University. He joined his father working for the Gastonia Gazette until 1947, when he established a firm that supplied the Gazette with photographs and photo engravings. He continued to photograph the people and places of Gaston County until his retirement in 1974.
If you have any information on the individuals featured in this exhibit, please contact Collections Manager, Markecia Koulesser at 704-922-7681 ext. 107 or markecia.koulesser@gastongov.com.
Julia Lane Underwood, age 3
February 20, 1964
Two men in Raylass Dept. Store
Gastonia, NC
c. 1950
Ailene Sharpe
December 30, 1964
Coca-Cola employee and statue
c. 1953
Linda Williams in formal gown
September 28, 1966
1950 Miss Firestone
c. 1950
Policewoman directing children
October 25, 1955
Three postmen with a dog
February 16, 1957
Red Cross volunteer in uniform
September 27, 1963
Sailor Freddie A. Hawkins
January 2, 1964
Patsy Brison in scout uniform
June 2, 1966
Barbara Wallace in swimwear
c. 1954
Tommy Knowles with trophy
March 23, 1967