VanDerZee married Kate L. Brown of Virginia in 1907. In 1908, after the birth of their daughter Rachel, they moved to Harlem. At that time Harlem was just opening up to African Americans and held much promise for those looking to participate in the urban American economy. VanDerZee worked waiting tables and operating an elevator during these early years in Harlem. His only photographs from this period are outdoor studies of his wife and daughter and other family members. Kate's sober countenance and stiff stance, typical of Victorian era photography, are softened by the lush woods surrounding them. This is a sensitive portrayal of VanDerZee's young family that would unfortunately dissolve prematurely. Kate left VanDerZee in 1916 because of the uncertainty of the photography business, and, sadly, his daughter Rachel experienced an untimely death in 1927.  A. L. C.