Composed by

Blake, Eubie, American, 1887 - 1983

Written by

Sissle, Noble, American, 1889 - 1975

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 12 1/4 × 9 1/4 in. (31.1 × 23.5 cm)

Type

songbooks

Place printed

United States, North and Central America

Date

1921

Description

Sheet music for the song "Love Will Find a Way" from Shuffle Along, Inc. On the front cover, in orange letters, is the musical title "Shuffle Along" in the top half of the page. At the top margin is the name of the song "GYPSY BLUE" in black letters in an orange outlined rectangle. Below the rectangle are the words "SHUFFLE ALONG, INC. Presents/ The New York Musical Novelty Success." Underneath the title is an image of seven individuals shown from the knees down, all walking in the same direction. There are four female individuals wearing skirts, three of whom are wearing high heel shoes and one who is wearing mary jane flats, and three male individuals in trousers. The legs all walk from right to left on a thick orange line. Below the line is a central rectangle outlined in orange containing the names of twenty songs. To the left of the central rectangle are the words "Book by/ Flournoy/ Miller/ and/ Aubrey/ Lyle." To the right of the central rectangle are the words "Lyrics & Music by/ Noble/ Sissle/ and/ Eubie/ Blake." Below the central rectangle are the words "M. Witmark & Sons/ New York." To the right is symbol of a lyre within a circle enclosing the words "Operatic Edition." To the right is Rights and Reproductions warning in a rectangle "Theatrical and Music Hall Rights of these Songs/ are fully protected by Copyright and MUST not be/ used for public performance without permission." The Cover is singed in black and blue pen above the title.

Topic

African American

Jazz (Music)

Musical Theatre

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2013.118.288

Restrictions & Rights

Copyright 1921 by M. Witmark & Sons on arrangement

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Sheet music

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Published by

Playbill, American, founded 1884

Used by

Royale Theatre, American, founded 1927

Subject of

Hansberry, Lorraine, American, 1930 - 1965

Combs, Sean, American, born 1969

McDonald, Audra, German-American, born 1970

Rashad, Phylicia, American, born 1948

Lathan, Sanaa, American, born 1971

Baker, David Aaron, American, born 1963

Ballard, Laurence, American

Bougere, Teagle F.

Harts, Frank, American, born 1979

Jones, Billy Eugene

Mitchell, Kenneth Alexander, Canadian, born 1974

Nunn, Bill, American, 1952 - 2016

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 8 1/2 x 5 3/8 in. (21.6 x 13.7 cm)

Type

theater programs

Place used

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

2004

Description

Playbill for A Raisin in the Sun. White background with yellow box at top; photograph below depicting a short-haired woman looking to the right. [PLAYBILL/ROYALE THEATRE/A RAISIN/ IN THE/SUN/by/Lorraine Hansberry/WWW.PLAYBILL.COM] White circular sticker on back, handwritten 2004.

Transcription Center Status

Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic

African American

Actors

Broadway Theatre

Drama (Theatre)

Tragedy (Theatre)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kayla Deigh Owens

Object number

2011.45.85

Restrictions & Rights

Playbill used by permission. All rights reserved, Playbill Inc.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., founded 1919

Subject of

Poitier, Sidney, Bahamian American, born 1927

Tracy, Spencer, American, 1900 - 1967

Katharine Hepburn, American, 1907 - 2003

Houghton, Katharine, American, born 1945

Directed by

Kramer, Stanley, 1913 - 2001

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 11 × 14 in. (27.9 × 35.6 cm)

Type

lobby cards

Place printed

Culver City, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America

Date

1967

Description

Lobby card features a color still from the film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner The image depicts Katharine Hepburn and Katharine Houghton seated at a table looking up at Spencer Tracy to the right of the frame. Sidney Poitier is shown standing next to the table, facing Tracy. A white box with blue and red text in the bottom left corner reads, [Columbia Pictures presents a / Stanley Kramer / production / Spencer / Tracy / Sidney / Poitier / Katharine / Hepburn / guess who's / coming to dinner / and introducing / Katharine Houghton / Music by DeVol · Written by William Rose / Produced and directed by Stanley Kramer · Technicolor®]. Black type in BL corner of lobby card reads, [Copyright ©1967 by Columbia Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved].

Topic

African American

Actors

Film

Hollywood (Film)

Race relations

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2013.108.9.1

Restrictions & Rights

© 1967 Columbia Pictures Corporation. Permission required for use.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Written by

Oscar Micheaux, American, 1884 - 1951

Illustrated by

Farrow, William McKnight, American, 1885 - 1967

Published by

Western Book Supply Company Publishers, American, founded 1915

Medium

ink on paper with buckram

Dimensions

H x W x D (closed): 8 × 5 7/16 × 1 5/8 in. (20.3 × 13.8 × 4.1 cm)

Type

books

Place printed

Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, United States, North and Central America

Date

1917

Caption

Oscar Micheaux was the most successful black independent filmmaker of the race movie era. Between 1919 and 1948 he wrote, directed, and produced approximately 40 films. Micheaux’s first film, The Homesteader, was an adaptation of his 1917 autobiographical novel about his experiences as a homesteader in South Dakota.

Description

A first edition hardcover octavo book with maroon buckram boards and gilt imprints. On the cover, within a gold edged border is text that reads "THE HOME- / STEADER / Oscar / Micheaux." The spine has gold text that reads at top "THE / HOME-STEADER / MICHEAUX." At bottom, under two gold lines are the words "Western / Book Supply / Company." Inside, it has an inscribed frontispiece that reads "Myalle A. Williams / April-1-1918- WJ Williams." There are 533 pages.

Topic

African American

American West

Literature

Men

Race relations

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2013.118.3

Restrictions & Rights

Public domain

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Distributed by

20th Century Fox Film Corporation, American, founded 1935

Subject of

Sumner, Cid Ricketts, American, 1890 - 1970

Dunne, Philip, American, 1908 - 1992

Nichols, Dudley, American, 1895 - 1960

Kazan, Elia, Greek American, 1909 - 2003

Zanuck, Darryl F., American, 1902 - 1979

Crain, Jeanne, American, 1925 - 2003

Barrymore, Ethel, American, 1879 - 1959

Waters, Ethel, American, 1896 - 1977

Lundigan, William, American, 1914 - 1975

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 29 3/4 × 39 7/8 in. (75.6 × 101.3 cm)

Type

posters

Place used

England, Europe

Date

1949

Description

This movie poster depicts two women, on opposite corners of the field. The upper right corner shows a woman (Ethel Waters) from the chest up, wearing a white shirt under a red outer layer, and a yellow turban. She frowns towards the opposite lower left corner, depicting a young woman with red hair (Jeanne Crain), wearing a ruffled top and a strand of pearls. Between them is the title "Pinky" in large red letters on a slight diagonal. Under the title is the phrase "She passed for white!" Across the top margin in black and yellow text are the words "THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR IS / DARRYL F. ZANUCK'S." In the bottom right quadrant in yellow text are the words "Starring / JEANNE CRAIN-ETHEL BARRYMORE / ETHEL WATERS-WILLIAM LUNDIGAN / Produced by DARRYL F. ZANUCK / Directed by ELIA KAZAN / Screen play by Philip Dunne / and Dudley Nichols. Based / on a novel by Cid Ricketts Sumner / 20th/ Century Fox." The poster background is a dark black at the edges that fades to a pale grey at the center. In the border below the bottom left corner of the image is [PRINTED IN ENGLAND] and below the bottom right corner is [STAFFORD & Co., LTD., NETHERFIELD, NOTTINGHAM; and LONDON].

Topic

African American

Actors

Film

Race films

Race relations

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2013.118.73

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Distributed by

Universal Pictures, founded 1912

Designed by

Sims, Art, American, born 1954

Subject of

Spike Lee, American, born 1957

Danny Aiello, born 1933

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 41 x 27 in. (104.1 x 68.6 cm)

Type

posters

Place depicted

Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1989

Description

A poster from the 1989 Spike Lee film, “Do the Right Thing” featuring color images of Danny Aiello, Spike Lee, and a young unidentified girl as seen from above. The title appears as the girl's chalk drawing in yellow text with a bright blue background as a street. To the right of the title is the text [Bed-Stuy] and at the bottom right is a childlike drawing of a figure shooting a gun and a police car. Below the title is the text “A Spike Lee Joint.” At the top of the poster is a tag line printed in yellow type: [It’s the hottest day of the summer./You can do nothing,/You can do something,/or you can…]

Topic

African American

Actors

Communities

Film

Race relations

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dow B. Ellis

Object number

2012.152.862

Restrictions & Rights

© 1989 Universal City Studios. Permission required for use.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Dearing, Judy, American, 1940 - 1995

Worn by

Beverley, Trezana, American, born 1945

Subject of

Dr. Shange, Ntozake, American, 1948 - 2018

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Medium

synthetic satin and crepe with metal closures

Dimensions

H x W x D (on form): 61 × 26 1/4 × 17 in. (154.9 × 66.7 × 43.2 cm)

Type

dresses

Place used

New York City, Manhattan County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1976-1978

Description

Sleeveless dress costume for the character Lady in Red from the original Broadway production of Ntozake Shange's choreopoem "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf." The dress is made from red satin synthetic fabric with the crepe finished wrong side facing. The bodice has a sweetheart neckline, scooped back, and front shaping with princess darts, ending at the natural waistline. The neckline and armholes are edged with the red satin, with the shiny satin side facing. There is a length of self-fabric piping around the waist, again with the shiny satin side facing. The full circle skirt falls at the knee and is hemmed with serged stitching in black thread. The dress closes at the center back with a metal zipper, with two (2) small metal hook-and-eye fasteners, one at the top of the back and the second at the waist. There is a length of black grosgrain ribbon sewn to the interior proper right waist with a large metal eye on the end, which closes with a large metal hook sewn to the interior proper left waist just inside the zipper. The bodice is lined with red synthetic satin, while the skirt is not lined.

Topic

African American

Broadway Theatre

Clothing and dress

Costume

Poetry

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

Object number

2007.3.35

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Black Fashion Museum Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Dearing, Judy, American, 1940 - 1995

Worn by

Collins, Risë

Subject of

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Dr. Shange, Ntozake, American, 1948 - 2018

Medium

synthetic satin and crepe with metal closures

Dimensions

H x W x D (On form): 40 3/4 × 17 × 14 1/2 in. (103.5 × 43.2 × 36.8 cm)

Type

dresses

Place used

New York City, Manhattan County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1976-1978

Description

Sleeveless dress costume for the character Lady in Purple from the original Broadway production of Ntozake Shange's choreopoem "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf." The dress is made from purple satin synthetic fabric with the crepe finished wrong side facing. The bodice has a sweetheart neckline, scooped back, and front shaping with princess darts, ending at the natural waistline. The neckline and armholes are edged with the purple satin, with the shiny satin side facing. There is a length of self-fabric piping around the waist, again with the shiny satin side facing. The full circle skirt falls at the knee and is hemmed with a chain stitch in purple thread that is covered with serged stitching in pink thread. The dress closes at the center back with a metal zipper, with two (2) small metal hook-and-eye fasteners, one at the top of the back and the second at the waist. There is a length of cream grosgrain ribbon sewn to the interior proper right and left back waist with a single metal hook-and-eye closure on the ends of the ribbon. The bodice is lined with purple synthetic satin, while the skirt is not lined. There are two (2) male metal snaps, one at each front armhole interior, sewn over the seam of the bust dart; there is no evidence of the corresponding female sides of these snaps.

Topic

African American

Actors

Broadway Theatre

Clothing and dress

Costume

Poetry

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

Object number

2007.3.36

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Black Fashion Museum Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Dearing, Judy, American, 1940 - 1995

Worn by

Dr. Shange, Ntozake, American, 1948 - 2018

Subject of

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Medium

synthetic satin and crepe with metal closures

Dimensions

H x W x D (on form): 43 1/2 × 15 × 15 in. (110.5 × 38.1 × 38.1 cm)

Type

dresses

Place used

New York City, Manhattan County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1976-1978

Description

Sleeveless dress costume for the character Lady in Orange from the original Broadway production of Ntozake Shange's choreopoem "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf." The dress is made from orange satin synthetic fabric with the crepe finished wrong side facing. The bodice has a sweetheart neckline, scooped back, and front shaping with princess darts, ending at the natural waistline. The neckline and armholes are edged with the orange fabric, with the shiny satin side facing. There is a length of self-fabric piping around the waist, again with the shiny satin side facing. The full circle skirt falls at the knee and is hemmed with serged stitching in orange thread. The dress closes at the center back with a metal zipper, with two (2) metal hook-and-eye fasteners, one at the top of the back and the second at the waist. There is a length of cream grosgrain ribbon sewn to the interior proper left waist with a large metal eye on the end, which closes with a large metal hook sewn to the interior proper right waist just inside the zipper. The bodice is lined with orange synthetic satin, while the skirt is not lined. There are six (6) male metal snaps, three at each armhole interior; there is no evidence of the corresponding female sides of these snaps.

Topic

African American

Broadway Theatre

Clothing and dress

Costume

Poetry

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

Object number

2007.3.37

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Black Fashion Museum Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Travilla, William, American, 1920 - 1990

Worn by

Carroll, Diahann, American, born 1935

Subject of

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Medium

crêpe synthetic fiber and metal closures

Dimensions

H x W x D (On form): 58 × 20 × 15 in. (147.3 × 50.8 × 38.1 cm)

Length: 61 in. (154.9 cm)

Waist: 27 1/2 in. (69.9 cm)

Inseam: 30 1/2 in. (77.5 cm)

Chest: 36 in. (91.4 cm)

Type

jump suits

Place used

United States, North and Central America

Date

1968-1971

Description

Jumpsuit worn by Diahann Carroll as the character Julia Baker on the television show "Julia." The jumpsuit is a halter with a large bow in the front and wide legs. The halter top has two (2) wide straps and fastens at the back neck with a metal hook on the proper right strap. (The eye on the proper left strap is missing.) An oversized bow with long tails is sewn to the center front of the jumpsuit. There is a center seam going down the front of the jumpsuit that continues down the inside of each pant leg. The pants are wide-legged and flare at the bottom. The bodice of the jumpsuit is backless with a U-shape around the lower back. The jumpsuit closes with a metal zipper that begins at the center lower back and is approximately 4 1/2 inches long. There are two pieces of boning covered in the pink crepe sewn to the interior of the jumpsuit on the proper right and proper left sides below the armholes. They are attached at the top but not at the bottom. The jumpsuit is not lined.

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Costume

Sitcoms

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

Object number

2007.3.39

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Black Fashion Museum Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Holder, Geoffrey, Trinidadian American, 1930 - 2014

Worn by

Mills, Stephanie, American, born 1957

Subject of

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Medium

cotton, lace, ribbon, plastic, elastic, and metal

Dimensions

H x W x D (On form (ab)): 32 1/2 × 20 × 18 3/4 in. (82.6 × 50.8 × 47.6 cm)

H x W x D (Flat (b)): 1 5/8 × 10 1/2 × 9 1/2 in. (4.1 × 26.7 × 24.1 cm)

Type

dresses

belts (costume accessories)

Place used

New York City, Manhattan, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1975

Description

This dress and belt were worn by Stephanie Mills as Dorothy in "The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical 'Wonderful Wizard of Oz'" on Broadway. The short-sleeved off-white cotton dress (a) falls just above the knee and has a circle skirt with a flounce. The v-neck bodice has bust darts and ends at the natural waistline. The neck opening is outlined with decorative, machine-made, off-white lace that has a central ladder design bordered by flowers. Two (2) rows of this lace continue down the center-front of the bodice to the waist. Red grosgrain ribbon is woven into the middle of the lace. The full, pouf sleeves are elbow-length and have thin elastic strips sewn inside the hem, creating gathered cuffs. Each cuff is bordered with machine-made, off-white lace that has a design of large circles bordered by smaller circles, through which red grosgrain ribbon has been woven. Lace flounces with a floral design are sewn into the hem of each cuff and hang 2 3/4 inches below the sleeve.

The skirt is heavily gathered at the waist, creating a very full skirt. A 5 1/2-inch flounce with box pleats is sewn around the hem. Above this flounce is a strip of the same lace as on the bodice, also with red grosgrain ribbon woven through the center of the lace. Above the decorative lace and ribbon are two pin tucks. The dress closes at the center back with five (5) off-white plastic buttons. The bottom button is different than the others, and may be a replacement. A single hook-and-eye closure is placed at the interior center back waistline. The back of the skirt is open with no apparent closure method.

The belt (b) is made of a shiny red plastic, and has a square metal buckle faced in the red plastic.

Topic

African American

Actors

Clothing and dress

Costume

Musical Theatre

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

Object number

2007.3.6ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Black Fashion Museum Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Holder, Geoffrey, Trinidadian American, 1930 - 2014

Created by

Nihda, Fred, 1931 - 1997

Used by

Haynes, Tiger, American, 1914 - 1994

Subject of

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Medium

metal

Dimensions

H x W x D: 12 1/2 × 3 3/4 × 2 in. (31.8 × 9.5 × 5.1 cm)

Type

güiros

Place used

New York City, Manhattan, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1975

Description

This oil can güira prop is part of a costume used by Tiger Haynes as Tin Man in "The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical 'Wizard of Oz'" on Broadway. It is a cylindrical tube of sheet metal with cone-shaped pieces soldered onto each long end. A rectangular hammered metal handle is nailed lengthwise to the join of the cylinder with nails. The bottom third of the cylinder has a series of hammered raised dots. When used as a percussive instrument, called a güira, these dots are scraped using a comb-like metal device to create sound.

Topic

African American

Actors

Clothing and dress

Costume

Men

Musical Theatre

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

Object number

2007.3.7.4

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Black Fashion Museum Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Musical Instruments

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

The Ferdinand Strauss Corporation, American, 1914 - 1927

Medium

tin, oil paint

Dimensions

H x W x D: 7 1/2 × 6 1/2 × 5 in. (19.1 × 16.5 × 12.7 cm)

Type

windup toys

chromolithographs

Date

1921

Description

Tin windup toy depicting two African American musicians; one figure plays the banjo while the other figure remains seated and plays the piano. The piano and chair that the pianist sits in have painted images of caricatured African Americans. The sheet music on the piano reads [DIXIE BLUES] at the top of each sheet. A tasseled blanket illustration drapes over the top of the piano and has black lettering which features prominently on the front of the piano. The text reads [HAM AND SAM/"THE MINSTREL TEAM"/TRADE MARK]. The banjo player, standing to the right of the piano player, is wearing red and white checkered pants, a green jacket with white and red trim, and a yellow top hat. The piano player is wearing a faded red and green outfit, with a red and green cap. A white sticker on the back of the piano in the bottom left corner reads, [LAST WOUND-UP/$650]. The Strauss Toys logo, a clown standing on a globe holding a banner aloft which reads [STRAUSS] with red text reading [TOYS] printed on the globe, is situated at the bottom center of the piano back. Beneath the logo is scripted black lettering which reads, [THE FERDINAND STRAUSS CORPORATION/New York, U.S.A./PATENTED BY UA M Co. OCT. 1921/OTHER PATENTS PENDING]. The metal loop on the PR side of the piano is used to wind the toy.

Topic

African American

Caricature and cartoons

Minstrel (Music)

Stereotypes

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer

Object number

2007.7.474

Restrictions & Rights

Public Domain

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer

Classification

Toys and Games

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Published by

Playbill, American, founded 1884

Used by

Neil Simon Theatre, American, founded 1927

Subject of

Carroll, Vinnette Justine, American, 1922 - 2002

LaBelle, Patti, American, born 1944

Green, Al, American, born 1946

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 8 1/2 x 5 5/8 in. (21.6 x 14.3 cm)

Type

theater programs

Place used

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1982

Description

Playbill for Your Arms Too Short to Box With God. White background with yellow box at top; black box below with photograph of a robed man and woman; the woman is smiling and twirling while the man is smiling and holding up his right arm. [PLAYBILL/ALVIN THEATRE/YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT/TO BOX WITH GOD] White circular sticker on back, handwritten 1982.

Transcription Center Status

Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic

African American

Broadway Theatre

Musical Theatre

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kayla Deigh Owens

Object number

2011.45.100

Restrictions & Rights

Playbill used by permission. All rights reserved, Playbill Inc.

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Published by

Playbill, American, founded 1884

Used by

Cort Theatre, American, founded 1912

Subject of

Rainey, Ma, American, 1886 - 1939

Wilson, August, American, 1945 - 2005

Dutton, Charles S., American, born 1951

Jackson, Leonard, American, born 1928

Judd, Robert, American, died 1986

Seneca, Joe, American, 1919 - 1996

Criscuolo, Lou, American, born 1934

Carpenter, John, American, born 1948

Mitchell, Aleta

Davenport-Richards, Scott

Loomis, Christopher

Merritt, Theresa, American, 1922 - 1998

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 8 1/2 x 5 3/8 in. (21.6 x 13.7 cm)

Type

theater programs

Place used

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1984

Description

Playbill for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. White background with yellow box at top; black box below with graphic of a woman in front of a microphone with her arms stretched out to her sides. [PLAYBILL/CORT THEATRE/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom] White circular sticker on back, handwirtten 1984.

Transcription Center Status

Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic

African American

Actors

Blues (Music)

Broadway Theatre

Drama (Theatre)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kayla Deigh Owens

Object number

2011.45.59

Restrictions & Rights

Playbill used by permission. All rights reserved, Playbill Inc.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Unidentified

Medium

wood, metal, velvet, thread and felt

Dimensions

H x W x D: 30 x 10 1/2 x 6 1/8 in. (76.2 x 26.7 x 15.6 cm)

Type

puppets

Date

19th-20th century

Description

A wooden, jointed marionette on a black metal stand in the form of a caricatured man. The marionette is wearing a red velvet jacket with long coattails and six (6) red velvet buttons, a white silk shirt underneath the jacket, and a velvet mustard-colored bowtie. The marionette's pants are mustard-colored and made of velvet. His eyes and mouth of marionette are moveable. The marionette's head, hands and shoes are painted black. The marionette's head is covered in black, tufted fabric. The marionette's mouth is painted bright red. Seven (7) fingernails are also painted red. The marionette is connected at the neck via a hook to a black metal stand. Black strings are attached to the head and limbs of the puppet and three metal hooks protrude from the top of the puppet's head. The bottom of the stand is covered in green felt. A piece of masking tape on bottom of black stand has blue handwritten text that reads, [Red Jacket / Brown Pants].

Topic

African American

Caricature and cartoons

Stereotypes

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer

Object number

2007.7.473

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer

Classification

Toys and Games

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Green Duck Company, American, 1906 - 2004

Medium

ink on metal

Dimensions

H x W x D: 1 × 13/16 × 3/16 in. (2.5 × 2.1 × 0.4 cm)

Type

buttons (information artifacts)

Place made

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America

Date

ca. 1935

Description

A yellow, round, metal pin-back button featuring black text that reads, [I'SE DE / PRESIDENT / Amos 'n' Andy Fresh Air Candy]. The back of the pin is printed slightly off-center with the name of the manufacturer, [GREENDUCK CO. CHICAGO], a graphic of a duck logo, patent information, and union stamps in blue ink.

Topic

African American

Advertising

Amusements

Stereotypes

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer

Object number

2007.7.475

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Executive Apparel, American, founded 1934

Worn by

Berry, Halle, American, born 1966

Medium

a: polyester and cotton blend cloth, plastic buttons;

b: plastic and metal

Dimensions

H x W: 44 x 20 1/2 in. (111.8 x 52.1 cm)

Type

dresses

uniform

Place depicted

Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Date

2001

Description

This teal waitress uniform dress (a) and name tag (b) were worn by Halle Berry as Leticia Musgrove in the film Monster's Ball (2001). The fitted short-sleeved dress reaches below the knee and is made from dark teal polyester cotton blend fabric. It closes at the center front with six (6) round white plastic buttons. The front opening reaches from the neck to below the waist, not to the hem. The collar and decorative panels on the cuffs of the sleeves are made from white polyester and cotton blend fabric. There are two (2) inset pockets, one at each side hip sewn into the side seams. The dress is not lined. A white manufacturer's label with burgundy embroidered text reading "EXECUTIVE / APPAREL / MADE IN U.S.A." is sewn at the interior center back neck with the name "LETICIA" handwritten in the bottom right corner in black ink. Below the manufacturer's label is a white fabric label with black printed text detailing the size, fiber content, and care.

The name tag (b) is pinned to the dress on the proper left front just below the collar. It is a rectangular piece of black plastic with a cream plastic panel adhered to the front that has engraved lines reading "LETICIA". It fastens with a metal rolling safety clasp that is adhered to the center of the back.

Topic

African American

Actors

Clothing and dress

Costume

Film

Race relations

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2011.125ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Costume

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Astor Pictures, American, 1930 - 1963

Subject of

Oscar Micheaux, American, 1884 - 1951

Medium

paper (fiber product)

Dimensions

H x W: 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 cm)

Type

lobby cards

Date

1948

Description

A lobby card for the movie "The Betrayal". The card is comprised of a black-and-white image of a man and woman standing in a room in front of another man lying on the carpet on the floor. The man on the floor appears to be dead. The woman is wearing a dark shiny dress and is holding a gun at her side in her left hand. Her right hand is resting on her chest and her face appears to be in a state of shock. The man standing next to her is wearing a light colored suit and hat and is extending his hand toward her. In the lower proper left there is a box with text that reads [GREATEST NEGRO PHOTOPLAY OF ALL TIME/ ASTOR PICTURES Presents/ The/ Betrayal/ OSCAR MICHEAUX'S/ Thrilling Motion Picture Epic/ Based on the immortal novel/ "THE WIND FROM NOWHERE"].

Topic

African American

Race films

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of David A. Lowrance

Object number

2011.160.4

Restrictions & Rights

Public Domain - film in public domain, materials as well

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Subject of

Williams, Spencer, American, 1893-1969

Brock, Geraldine, American, born 1929

Created by

United Films, active ca. 1940s

Medium

paper (fiber product)

Dimensions

H x W: 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 cm)

Type

lobby cards

Date

ca. 1949

Description

A lobby card for the movie Girl in Room 20. The card is comprised of several images. One is a black-and-white image of two men and a woman. The woman (Geraldine Brock) is cowering in a chair and looking at one of the men who is making a fist and threatening the other man, who is down on the floor looking back up at him. There is another black-and-white image of the same woman standing in front of a counter in an office signing a document. She is dressed in a suit and hat and holding a purse. There is a man in a suit standing on the other side of a counter. In the upper proper right corner there is a red image of a woman dressed in a fur coat and holding a gun. In the lower proper right corner there is a a cartoon drawing also printed in red of a man punching another man. In the center and lower proper left there is text that reads [GERALDINE BROCK/ AS THE/ GIRL in ROOM 20/ Spencer WILLIAMS. July JONES/ OUTSTANDING COLORED CAST SMASH HIT].

Topic

African American

Race films

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of David A. Lowrance

Object number

2011.160.5

Restrictions & Rights

public domain

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture