Emory University acquired more than 10,000 photographs capturing African-American life from the 1840s through the 1970s, officials announced Thursday.

The photos, collected by Robert Langmuir of Philadelphia, will be housed in Emory's Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library. Randall Burkett, curator of the library's African American Collections, met Langmuir more the a decade ago and Emory has acquired other collections from him.

The massive collection provides a window into life across several generations. Images depict everyday society and as well as famous people including Pearl Harbor hero Dorie Miller, blues musician Howlin' Wolf and Lightnin' Hopkins and religious leaders Noble Drew Ali, Father Divine and Bishop Elmira Jeffries.