About Without Sanctuary
Without Sanctuary belongs to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and will be part of their permanent collection when the Center opens in 2012 in Atlanta, GA. Many of the images appear in the book Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America (Twin Palms). James Allen, who calls himself a "picker" of memorabilia, often recounts the day he was rummaging through old collections when he came across images that shocked him: post cards depicting lynching scenes. Who would take such horrific pictures, Allen asked. And why would anyone send these brutal images as post cards to friends and acquaintances?
Allen's curiosity led him to assemble the photos and post cards into an exhibition about a dark chapter of American history. Without Sanctuary was first displayed at the New York Historical Society in 2000 and drew large crowds; it has subsequently been shown in several cities across America and overseas. A companion volume to the exhibition is available for purchase online through the Freedom Center Gift Shop or through Amazon.com.
