Robert E. Lee Hall photograph collection

Robert E. Lee Hall was a Baltimore pharmacist, doctor, and lawyer. After receiving a pharmacy license in Missouri (1881), Hall came to Baltimore and practiced pharmacy from 1884-1894, then look a degree from the Baltimore University School of Law in 1894. He was active in the Democratic party, and was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1904.

Hall lived at 635 Gorsuch Avenue in the Homestead area of Baltimore, within several blocks of a Chinese family named Lang or Fang. He was involved in community politics, at various times working with the Homestead League and Improvement Association, the Baltimore Reform League, and the Suburban Civic Federation, among others.

Some of the photographs in the collection were apparently related to an undated letter, possibly to Hall, which begins: "Honorable Sir: Won’t you do us the favor of examining the enclosed photographs, which tell a true story of the conditions which exist in the Old Annex". The photographs depict unimproved residential streets, with captions pointing out lack of water, sewer and electric facilities. The letter goes on to request that the recipient vote against a certain House Bill No. 89, which, in the opinion of the writers:

". . . breaks faith with the people; it is unjust and unfair to cancel that moral obligation and agreement which the officials of the City of Baltimore made with the people of the Old Annex".