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  • 1930s
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    • Photographs 260
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  • Date
    • 1930s 595
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  • Place
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    • Arkansas 3
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  • Name
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    • Micheaux, Oscar Devereaux 8
    • Pepsodent Company 8
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  • Pendant for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority member's silver anniversary

    Pendant for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority member's silver anniversary

    Manufactured by
    Unidentified
    Subject of
    Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, founded 1908
    Medium
    metal
    Dimensions
    1 1/8 x 1 x 3/16 in. (2.9 x 2.5 x 0.5 cm)
    Type
    pendants (jewelry)
    Date
    after 1933
    Description
    An Alpha Kappa Alpha metal lapel pendant with a stickpin back. The pendant is silver in color with the Alpha Kappa Alpha seal at center and a circular border.
    Topic
    African American
    Education
    Sororities
    Women
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Historical Society of Washington, DC and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
    Object number
    2013.133.2.6
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Memorabilia and Ephemera
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Charlene Hodges Byrd collection

    Charlene Hodges Byrd collection

    creator
    Byrd, Charlene Hodges, 1929-2009
    name
    Bearden, Romare, 1911-1988
    Cummings, Ida R., (Ida Rebecca), 1868-1958
    Douglass, Frederick, 1817?-1895
    Grimke, Francis J., (Francis James), 1850-1937
    Hodges, Joyce Ethel Cummings, 1903-1971
    Morgan State College.
    Shimm, Erminie F., (Erminie Florence), 1867-1936
    Shimm, Sarah A., 1843-1885
    Thomas, Elizabeth N., (Elizabeth Nelson), d. 1932
    Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915
    object type
    Archival materials
    place
    Washington (D.C.)
    inclusive dates
    circa 1750-2009
    bulk dates
    bulk 1880-1960
    Physical description
    43 linear feet (35 document boxes and 39 oversize boxes)
    Abstract
    The Charlene Hodges Byrd collection measures 43 linear feet, and dates from circa 1750-2009, with the bulk of the material dating from 1880-1960. The collection documents the personal life and professional career of Charlene Hodges Byrd, an African American teacher from Washington, D.C., along with material for several related families from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Family members prominently represented include Sarah A. Shimm, teacher and essayist under the name Faith Lichen; her daughters Erminie F. Shimm and Grace E. Shimm Cummings, both teachers; and Byrd's mother, Joyce Ethel Cummings Hodges, also a teacher. Correspondence and writings chiefly discuss family life, religion, race, education, and the relationship with Frederick Douglass and his family. The collection is arranged in 10 series: Biographical Material, Correspondence, Writings, Subject Files, Financial and Legal Records, Printed Material, Volumes, Memorabilia, Textiles, and Photographs.
    Preferred Citation note
    Charlene Hodges Byrd collection, circa 1750-2009. National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution.
    Scope and Contents note
    Series 1. Papers related to biographical and family histories of the Byrd, Cummings, Davage, Dews, Hodges, Shimm, Spruill, and Thomas families. Material includes family trees; school diplomas and certificates; programs; awards; marriage and divorce papers; funeral documents; and obituaries.
    Series 2: Chiefly letters from family and friends regarding family news, financial matters, school, work, neighborhood affairs, church events, travel and the weather. The majority of the letters are addressed to Charlene Hodges Byrd, Grace E. Shimm Cummings, Ida R. Cummings, Elizabeth Dews Hodges, Joyce Ethel Cummings Hodges, Erminie F. Shimm, Sarah A. Shimm, and Elizabeth N. Thomas. Other correspondence includes letters from Booker T. Washington, Bessye Beardon, Charlotte Davage, Amelia Douglass, and Harrell S. Spruill. There are also a number of greeting cards, postcards, and empty envelopes.
    Series 3. Writings include essays, speeches, papers written for school, teacher's notebooks, and a diary of Erminie F. Shimm, 1903. Topics include education, Frederick Douglass, religion, race, Africa, and the temperance movement.
    Series 4. Subject files on Charlene Hodges Byrd's involvement with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; Book Lovers of Charleston, West Virginia, a women's book club organized in 1923; Church Women United radio program; and The Links, Inc., a volunteer service organization. The papers on Liberia relate to missionary work, and were probably gathered by Erminie F. Shimm; and the Shimm-Thomas Collection are papers related to the deposit and later return of family items housed as a collection at Morgan State College.
    Series 5. The financial and legal records include invoices and receipts, bank books, real estate tax assessments, deeds, and wills. There is also material related to the estate of Erminie F. Shimm.
    Series 6. Printed materials includes books, pamphlets, newspapers, newsletters, clippings, invitations and programs. The books and pamphlets are chiefly school yearbooks and newspapers and other texts related to religion, politics, music, and poetry. Also included is a copy of Frederick Douglass's autobiography and a printed copy of his speech "The Race Problem." The clippings include obituaries, articles about Charlene Hodges Byrd and her husband Charles R. Byrd, essays by Sarah A. Shimm under the name Faith Lichen, and articles on the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. The invitations and programs are primarily for school graduations, weddings, social events, and funerals. Other printed material includes newsletters; business cards; calling cards; postage stamps, chiefly from Liberia; and blank postcards. The binder on Frederick Douglass was prepared by Byrd and her goddaughter for the West Virginia School Studies Fair, and includes copies of Byrd family artifacts.
    Series 7. Autograph books, guest books, and scrapbooks. The autograph book of Grace E. Shimm Cummings includes autographs from Amelia Douglass, Lewis B. Douglass, Charles R. Douglass, W. H. Clair, and Francis J. Grimke. The scrapbook of Grace E. Shimm Cummings and Erminie F. Shimm consists primarily of clippings, and was assembled from an old teacher's book with a student registration and punishment pages still intact at the back.
    Series 8. Miscellaneous items in the collection including artwork, a coin purse, a piece of handwoven cloth belonging to Catherine Nelson's great grandmother, and leather hair curlers.
    Series 9: The textiles are chiefly christening gowns, children's garments, and an apron. Several garments belonged to Joyce Ethel Cummings Hodges, Charlene Hodges Byrd, and Elizabeth N. Thomas. There is also a doll that belonged to Amelia Douglass's niece, Kitty Cromwell.
    Series 10. Photographs include pictures of Charlene Hodges Byrd, Joyce Ethel Hodges Cummings, Frederick Douglass, Elizabeth Dews Hodges, Charles Gilmor Cummings, Grace E. Shimm Cummings, Erminie F. Shimm, and other friends and relatives of the Byrd, Hodges, Cummings, Douglass, and Shimm families. Subjects are primarily portraits and candids, along with some wedding, baby, and school pictures. While some of the photographs are annotated, many of the individuals are unidentified. Included are vintage photographs, cabinet cards, cartes-de-visites, tintypes, daguerreotypes, and negatives.
    Biographical/Historical note
    The Shimm, Thomas, Cummings, Hodges, Davage, and related African American families chiefly lived in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Numerous family members worked as teachers, barbers, or in the service industry. They were active in local churches and service organizations, and had established friendships with local church leaders as well as with Frederick Douglass and his family.
    The Shimm and Thomas families were located in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. The Thomas family can be traced back to Philip Nelson, who owned property in Leesburg, Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Family genealogical papers list Nelson as a descendent of British Admiral Horatio Nelson. This lineage, however, is not supported in publically available family histories of Horatio Nelson. Philip Nelson and his wife Araminta had five children: Catherine (b. 1805?), William, Levi (b. 1820?), Henrietta, and Grayson.
    Catherine Nelson married Elias E. Thomas (b. 1816?) of Virginia in 1840. They wed in Philadelphia and had five children: Levi Nelson (b. 1841), Sarah (1843-1885), Edward (b. 1844), Elizabeth (1848-1932), and Charles (b. 1851).
    Sarah Thomas married William Y. Shimm (b. 1841), a barber in Reading, Pennsylvania, on July 26, 1863. They had 2 daughters, Erminie (1867-1936) and Grace (1865-1910). The Shimms lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but had moved to Washington, D.C., around 1871. Sarah was a teacher and a writer who published under the name "Faith Lichen." Her writings, primarily essays and commentaries about race and politics, were printed in several newspapers including The National Republican, The Celtic Weekly, The People's Advocate, and The Sunday Morning Gazette.
    Sarah's sister Elizabeth was also a teacher in Maryland. Her brother Charles was a lawyer in Washington, D.C., and a graduate of the first class at Howard University's law school.
    Erminie and Grace Shimm became teachers in the Washington, D.C., public school system. Erminie was active in her church and supportive of missionary work in Liberia. Grace married Charles Gilmor Cummings, a pastor in Alexandria, Virginia, on July 9, 1902. They had one daughter, Joyce Ethel (1903-1971), and second child in 1905 who died in infancy. Grace died in 1910 of heart failure. After her death, Grace's sister Erminie and Charles's family helped raise Joyce Ethel in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland.
    Joyce Ethel Cummings Hodges graduated from Morgan College in 1924, and received her master's degree from Howard University in 1931. She taught at Douglass High School in Baltimore from 1924-1964. Joyce Ethel married Charles E. Hodges (1900--975) in 1927 and they divorced in 1953. The couple had one daughter, Charlene (1929-2009).
    Charlene Hodges Byrd grew up in Washington, D.C., but attended the Northfield School for Girls in East Northfield, Massachusetts, for high school, graduating in 1946. She received her bachelor's degree from Connecticut College in 1950, and her master's degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago in 1951. She married Charles R. Byrd (1919-2004) in 1952. They had one son in 1954, but he died four days after birth. Byrd soon began a career as a teacher and education administrator, eventually working for Kanawha County Schools in Charleston, West Virginia. She was also active in her local community as a member of the Book Lovers of Charleston, West Virginia; Church Women United; and The Links, Inc.
    Charles E. Hodges was born Bridgewater, Virginia, where his father was a minister. He graduated from Morgan College in 1923 and received his master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1943. He was a teacher and served as principal of the North Street School in Hagerstown, Maryland. After he and Joyce Ethel divorced in 1953, he married Elizabeth Dews (1913-1999) in 1955.
    Elizabeth Dews Hodges, born Elizabeth Virginia Waumbeeka, was adopted by James Edward (1889-1954) and Sarah Virginia Dews (1888?-1964) in Washington, D.C., in 1920. She graduated from Miner Teachers College in 1939, and worked as a teacher in Annapolis, Maryland, at Wiley H. Bates High School for 34 years. She was awarded a medal for her work there by the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge in 1959. Elizabeth was active in local organizations in Maryland and Washington, D.C., including the SE/NE Friends of the Capitol View Branch Library; Eastern Star Chapter 4; Mount Ephraim Baptist Church; National Museum of Women in the Arts; National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples; and the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind.
    The Davage family is descended from Sidney Hall (b. 1818?) and Charles Davage (b. 1815?). Sidney was a former slave at the Perry Hall mansion in Baltimore, and was manumitted by 1840. She married Charles, a coachman, on April 12, 1842. They had five children: Eliza Jane (1843-1913), Sophia (b. 1847), Charlotte (b. 1849), Charles (b. 1854), and Hester (b. 1845). Their daughter Eliza Jane married Henry Cummings (b. 1830?). They had seven children: Harry Sythe (1866-1917), Charles Gilmor (1870-1924), William (b. 1882), Ida R. (1868-1958), Estelle (1874-1944), Carroll (b. 1875), Francis (b. 1872), and Aaron (1864?-1932).
    Harry Sythe Cummings, a lawyer in Baltimore, became the city's first African American City Council member. He was first elected in 1890 and served intermittently until his death in 1917, often working on issues related to education. Cummings also delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention in 1904 seconding the presidential nomination of Theodore Roosevelt. He married Blanche Conklin in 1899, and they had three children: Harry S. Jr. (b. 1905), Lucille (d. 1906), and Louise.
    Charles Gilmor Cummings graduated from Drew Theological Seminary in 1898, and was a pastor in Alexandria, Virginia and elsewhere. After the death of his wife Grace in 1910, he married Rosa Catherine Bearden, grandmother of artist Romare Bearden, in 1912.
    Ida R. Cummings graduated from Morgan College in 1922, and was the first African American kindergarten teacher in Baltimore. She was also active in local organizations, and was president of the Colored Fresh Air and Empty Stocking Circle; chairman of the Woman's Section Council of Defense in Baltimore during the World War, 1914-1918; and president of the Woman's Campaign Bureau of the Colored Republican Voters' League of Maryland.
    Conditions Governing Access note
    Access to collection requires appointment.
    topic
    African American churches
    African American educators
    African American families
    African American newspapers
    African American women journalists
    African American--Social life and customs
    African Americans--Education
    African Americans--Maryland
    African Americans--Pennsylvania
    African Americans--Photographs
    African Americans--Washington (D.C.)
    smithsonian online virtual archive
    Record
    Data source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Five figurines in the form of caricatured male musicians

    Five figurines in the form of caricatured male musicians

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    ceramic
    Dimensions
    H x W x D (2007.7.141.1): 2 15/16 × 1 15/16 × 1 1/2 in. (7.5 × 4.9 × 3.8 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.141.2): 2 3/4 × 1 7/16 × 1 1/2 in. (7 × 3.7 × 3.8 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.141.3): 2 3/4 × 1 11/16 × 1 3/4 in. (7 × 4.3 × 4.4 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.141.4): 2 3/4 × 1 5/8 × 1 1/8 in. (7 × 4.1 × 2.9 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.141.5): 2 11/16 × 1 3/4 × 1 1/2 in. (6.8 × 4.4 × 3.8 cm)
    Type
    figurines
    Date
    ca. 1930-1940s
    Description
    2007.7.141.1:
    A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing the clarinet while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit and his lips are painted red. The clarinet is painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
    2007.7.141.2:
    A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing the saxophone while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit and his lips are painted red. The saxophone is painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
    2007.7.141.3:
    A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing a drum while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit and his lips are painted red. The drum and drum mallets are painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
    2007.7.141.4:
    A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing the trumpet while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit and his lips are painted red. The trumpet is painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
    2007.7.141.5:
    A ceramic figurine in the form of a caricatured male musician playing the banjo while sitting on a red ottoman. The musician is wearing a black suit with a black tie over a white shirt. The man’s skin and hair are painted the same color black as the suit, his lips are painted red and his teeth have been painted white. The banjo is painted gold. There is a hole on the bottom of figurine.
    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
    2007.7.141.1-.5
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
    Classification
    Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
    Exhibition
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Jig doll in the form of a caricatured porter

    Jig doll in the form of a caricatured porter

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    wood , paint and metal
    Dimensions
    H x W x D (2007.7.204a-d): 14 1/8 × 9 7/8 × 3 13/16 in. (35.9 × 25.1 × 9.7 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.204a): 12 1/4 × 3 × 2 in. (31.1 × 7.6 × 5.1 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.204a & d): 12 7/8 × 3 × 2 in. (32.7 × 7.6 × 5.1 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.204b): 9 1/2 × 1/4 × 1/4 in. (24.1 × 0.6 × 0.6 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.204c): 1 7/8 × 9 7/8 × 3 13/16 in. (4.8 × 25.1 × 9.7 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.204d): 3/4 × 1 1/16 × 1 1/16 in. (1.9 × 2.7 × 2.7 cm)
    Type
    dolls
    Date
    ca. 1935
    Description
    A wooden jig doll in the form of a caricatured porter. The doll has jointed limbs and "dances" when a levered paddle on the base is manually activated. The doll consists of four (4) pieces: doll, dowel, base, and hat.
    2007.7.204a:
    A wooden jig doll in the form of a "coon" porter. His face is painted black, with white eyes and a wide, white mouth. A cylindrical wooden hat (2007.7.204d) sits atop the PR side of his head. The hat fits on top of a small dowel and can be removed. The doll has been painted wearing porter’s uniform: a red jacket over a white shirt and red tie. A red and white boutonniere has been painted over his proper left breast. The doll's arms are jointed at the shoulder and his legs are jointed at the hip and knees. His legs and feet are unpainted wood. A dowel has been inserted into a round hole in the bottom of the torso, attaching the legs.
    2007.7.204b:
    A wooden dowel. Fits into a hole in the base and stands up vertically. The top fits into the doll, allowing the doll to stand above the wooden paddle (2007.7.204c).
    2007.7.204c:
    A rectangular wooden base for the doll, with levered paddle. The base is painted red with a yellow semi-circle design. A rectangular wood block is attached to the base and acts as a fulcrum for the paddle. The paddle has a round face, painted brown and white. It has a round hole in the center that is aligned over a round hole in the base, into which a wooden dowel (2007.7.204b) is inserted. The paddle acts as a base for the figure, which "dances" when the lever is pressed up and down.
    2007.7.204d:
    A cylindrical hat for doll. The hat is brown wood, with a red band painted around the bottom. There is a round hole in the bottom, which allows the hat to be inserted onto a dowel on the doll's head.
    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
    2007.7.204a-d
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    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
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Walking toy in the form of a caricatured porter

    Walking toy in the form of a caricatured porter

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    paint on wood , metal
    Dimensions
    12 1/8 x 5 1/2 x 4 1/2 in. (30.8 x 14 x 11.4 cm)
    Type
    walking dolls
    Date
    ca. 1935
    Description
    A painted, wooden walking toy in the form of a caricatured porter. The porter has a cartoonish face with large, round eyes and a wide white mouth. He is painted wearing bellhop uniform: a gold jacket with four (4) black buttons and the word [SAMBO] under his proper left breast pocket. A hat is painted on top of his head, gold with a red front. His torso is hinged at the waist to his cylindrical, red legs. The porter has large platform feet with curved bottoms that allows the toy to walk. The shoes are painted black, the backs gold. There are circular grooves cut into the porter's lower back.
    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
    2007.7.206
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    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
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Walking toy in the form of a caricatured porter

    Walking toy in the form of a caricatured porter

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    paint on wood
    Dimensions
    13 7/8 x 5 1/4 x 5 1/2 in. (35.2 x 13.3 x 14 cm)
    Type
    walking dolls
    Date
    ca. 1935
    Description
    A painted, wooden walking toy in the form of a caricatured porter. The figure has a black cartoonish face with white eyes, a large, red mouth and white teeth. The top of his head is also black, with two orange stripes on the proper left. He is painted wearing a red jacket, white shirt and a black tie. His legs are cylindrical and painted orange. The figure's proper right foot is missing. The proper left foot has a flat top and curved bottom with the front of the foot painted orange, and the back painted black. The back of his head is painted orange at the top with a red body and orange legs. There is a broken orange wooden post coming out of the porter's lower back.
    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
    2007.7.207
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    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
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Coin bank in the form of

    Coin bank in the form of "Mammy"

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    cast iron
    Dimensions
    7 1/2 x 5 x 3 1/4 in. (19.1 x 12.7 x 8.3 cm)
    Type
    banks (containers)
    Date
    ca. 1925
    Description
    A cast iron coin bank in the form of "Mammy." The bank is made of two (2) parts joined vertically at the center. The halves do not match up perfectly. The figure is standing, with her hands on her hips. She is wearing a red dress, white shawl, and white waist apron tied around her back. A red kerchief with white polka dots is tied around her head. Her face, hands, and shoes are painted black. Her eyes are two white dots. A rectangular hole for inserting coins is located at the center of her back, on the shawl.
    Topic
    African American
    Caricature and cartoons
    Domestic life
    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
    2007.7.211
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
    Classification
    Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
    Exhibition
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Coin bank in the form of

    Coin bank in the form of "Mammy"

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    cast iron
    Dimensions
    12 x 7 1/2 x 5 in. (30.5 x 19.1 x 12.7 cm)
    Type
    banks (containers)
    Date
    ca. 1925
    Description
    Painted metal coin bank in the form of “Mammy." She is standing with her feet apart and her hands on her hips. She is wearing a blue dress with yellow cuffs, yellow shawl, white waist apron, and black shoes. A red kerchief with white polka dots covers her head. She has brown eyes and a smiling, pink mouth. A rectangular hole for inserting coins is located at the center of the figure's back, on the shawl.
    Topic
    African American
    Caricature and cartoons
    Domestic life
    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
    2007.7.217
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
    Classification
    Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
    Exhibition
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Puppet with stand in the form of a caricatured man

    Puppet with stand in the form of a caricatured man

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    Paint on wood with metal, plastic and felt
    Dimensions
    H x W x D (2007.7.233abc): 13 3/4 × 8 3/8 × 11 1/2 in. (34.9 × 21.3 × 29.2 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.233a): 13 1/4 × 4 × 11 1/4 in. (33.7 × 10.2 × 28.6 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.233b): 11 × 8 3/8 × 11 1/2 in. (27.9 × 21.3 × 29.2 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.233c): 2 3/4 × 3/16 × 3/16 in. (7 × 0.5 × 0.5 cm)
    Type
    puppets
    Date
    ca. 1935
    Description
    A wooden puppet with stand.
    2007.7.233a
    A painted wood puppet with jointed limbs, spring-mounted head, and spring handle at the back. The puppet is in the form of a caricatured man sticking out his tongue. He is wearing a white shirt, blue bowtie, blue jacket with red lapels, and black and yellow striped pants. His feet are painted as if he is wearing white spats over black shoes. A metal spring with a green wood handle is attached to the center of the doll's back.
    2007.7.233b
    A puppet stand with a round base, painted black and green. The underside of the base is covered in green felt. A spiral-cut, cylindrical wooden pole with a groove at the top is attached to the base behind a round hole.
    2007.7.233c
    An off-white cylindrical plastic peg. The peg is inserted into doll stand on base, over metal spring, holding the doll in place.
    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
    2007.7.233abc
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    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
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Bean bag toss board depicting a caricature of a clown

    Bean bag toss board depicting a caricature of a clown

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    paint on wood with metal
    Dimensions
    14 9/16 x 15 3/4 x 12 in. (37 x 40 x 30.5 cm)
    Type
    gameboards
    Date
    1930-1950
    Description
    A wooden board for bean bag toss game depicting a caricature of a clown. The front board is rectangular in shape and is raised and is held in place by triangular side boards. The front and sides are painted maroon. A clown's face has been painted on the playing surface in black, yellow, maroon and black. The clown is wearing a yellow ruffled collar with maroon and black polka dots. The clown's face features pointed eyebrows, a round nose with a black center, and large red lips surrounding a round aperture. The back is open, with a wooden plank across the bottom, connecting the two side boards.
    Topic
    African American
    Amusements
    Caricature and cartoons
    Play
    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
    2007.7.264
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
    Classification
    Toys and Games
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Jig doll in the form of a caricatured porter

    Jig doll in the form of a caricatured porter

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    paint on wood and metal
    Dimensions
    13 5/8 x 3 1/8 x 2 3/4 in. (34.6 x 7.9 x 7 cm)
    Type
    dolls
    Date
    ca. 1935
    Description
    A wooden jig doll in the form of a caricatured porter. The doll's face is painted black, with white eyes and a wide, white mouth. The doll's arms are jointed at the shoulder and his legs are jointed at the hip and knees. His legs and feet are unpainted wood. A dowel has been inserted into a round hole in the bottom of the torso, attaching the legs. The dolls face, hands, and lower legs are painted black. His hat, torso, arms, upper legs, and feet are painted white. He has unevenly shaped eyes. The doll's torso is painted as if he is wearing a white double-breasted jacket and white bowtie. The jacket has six (6) black buttons painted on, in two (2) rows of three (3). There is a round black button painted on each wrist and two (2) black buttons painted on the outside of each upper leg. There is a round hole in the center of the doll's back.
    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
    2007.7.267
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    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
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Drum hand-painted depicting caricatures of nine male faces

    Drum hand-painted depicting caricatures of nine male faces

    Medium
    wood, metal, hide and paint
    Dimensions
    20 1/2 x 17 7/8 x 6 1/2 in. (52.1 x 45.4 x 16.5 cm)
    Type
    drums (membranophones)
    Date
    ca. 1925
    Description
    A hand painted drum depicting caricatures of nine male faces on the drumhead. The sides of drum are painted with red and white triangles. The rim of drum has eight metal tension rods. The center of drum head has a large face with large yellow eyes and a wide smiling mouth. The large face is depicted wearing a red bowtie with black polka dots. Surrounding the large face at the drumhead's center are eight musical notes decorated with eight (8) small faces that form the note heads. There are seven (7) eighth notes and one (1) sixteenth note. The bottom of drumhead is hollow. At the top edge of the drum is a metal handle for hanging/carrying.
    Topic
    African American
    Caricature and cartoons
    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
    2007.7.444
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
    Classification
    Musical Instruments
    Exhibition
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Wax figurine of a vegetable vendor

    Wax figurine of a vegetable vendor

    Created by
    Rosado, Lucy Alfonso Alfaro, American, 1894 - 1978
    Medium
    glass, metal, wood, cloth, wax and plastic
    Dimensions
    H x W x D (2007.7.447a): 8 3/8 × 4 15/16 × 4 15/16 in. (21.3 × 12.5 × 12.5 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.447b): 1 3/8 × 5 3/4 × 5 3/4 in. (3.5 × 14.6 × 14.6 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.447c): 7 1/4 × 3 × 3 in. (18.4 × 7.6 × 7.6 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.447d): 2 1/4 × 3 × 2 1/4 in. (5.7 × 7.6 × 5.7 cm)
    Type
    figurines
    Place made
    New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    1935-1940
    Description
    A wax figurine of a vegetable vendor with a basket of produce.
    2007.7.447a:
    A clear, glass display dome. The glass is one-sixteenth of an inch (1/16") thick.
    2007.7.447b:
    A black plinth for the figurine and produce basket. The plinth is round and has two (2) round tiers atop three (3) rectangular feet.
    2007.7.447c:
    A figurine of a vegetable vendor standing on a square, dark brown wood block. The man is wearing a yellow hat, yellow patterned fabric shirt, and blue and off-white striped fabric pants. His feet are black. A red and white striped kerchief is tied around his neck. The figure is standing with his proper right arm reaching forward. There is hardened wax on the top surface of the wood block around the figure's feet and in a circle in front of him.
    2007.7.447d:
    A plastic miniature of a basket filled with produce. The basket is yellow plastic, with a woven design around the sides. The basket is filled with produce. Identifiable produce includes a head of cabbage and an eggplant. On each side of the cabbage head are three (3) yellow tubular vegetables and three (3) red tubular vegetables. A yellow gourd-like item sits in front of the cabbage, next to the eggplant. Another loose eggplant is included with the basket.
    Topic
    African American
    Agriculture
    Caricature and cartoons
    Craftsmanship
    Foodways
    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
    2007.7.447a-d
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
    Classification
    Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
    Exhibition
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Box and tube of

    Box and tube of "Darkie" brand toothpaste

    Manufactured by
    Hawley & Hazel Group, Chinese, founded 1933
    Medium
    cardboard, metal, plastic and inorganic material
    Dimensions
    H x W x D (2007.7.463.1): 5 × 1 1/2 × 1 in. (12.7 × 3.8 × 2.5 cm)
    H x W x D (2007.7.463.2ab): 4 3/8 × 1 3/8 × 7/8 in. (11.1 × 3.5 × 2.2 cm)
    Type
    toothpaste
    Place made
    Thailand, Asia
    Date
    1933-1985
    Description
    Box and tube of “Darkie” brand toothpaste from Thailand
    2007.7.1:
    A thin cardboard "Darkie" brand toothpaste box, with writing printed in English and Thai. Both the front and back of the box feature a black and white illustration of a caricature of a wide-eyed, smiling man wearing a top hat, white shirt, black jacket and a bow tie. The white and black text above the image on each side reads [DARKIE / TOOTH PASTE]. Red writing, in Thai, is printed under the image. The bottom third of the box front has a circular logo with three circles split into black and white semicircles and text above and below the middle circle that reads [HAWLEY & HAZEL / BLACK & WHITE]. At the bottom of the front panel is black text that reads [HAWLEY & HAZEL / CHEMICAL CO. LTD.]. The back of the box is identical to the front except for the Thai text in black at the bottom and a white sticker over the man’s face with blue text that reads [BEST] at the top and Thai at the bottom followed by [5%]. The thinner sides of the box are green, one side printed in English and the other in the foreign language. The English side reads [DARKIE / TOOTH PASTE / Contains Fluoride]. The top flap is white, green, and black with lettering in Thai. The bottom is green, white, and black with English lettering that reads [DARKIE / TOOTH PASTE / MEDIUM SIZE / 10.00 / (baht currency symbol)].
    2007.7.2ab:
    A tube (2007.7.2a) of "Darkie" brand toothpaste, made of metal with a black plastic cap (2007.7.2b). The tube is primarily white, with a black band around the top. White text around the band reads [DARKIE DARKIE]. The front of the tube features a black and white illustration of a caricature of a wide-eyed, smiling man wearing a top hat, white shirt, black jacket and a bow tie. Black text above the image reads [TOOTH PASTE]. A black and white circular logo with three circles split into black and white semicircles and text above and below the middle circle that reads [HAWLEY & HAZEL / BLACK & WHITE]. The black text under the logo reads: [HAWLEY & HAZEL]. Black text on the back reads [TOOTH PASTE].
    Topic
    African American
    Caricature and cartoons
    Health
    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
    2007.7.463.1-.2ab
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
    Classification
    Tools and Equipment-Personal use
    Exhibition
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Pin-back button advertising Amos 'n' Andy Fresh Air Candy

    Pin-back button advertising Amos 'n' Andy Fresh Air Candy

    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
    See more items in
    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
  • Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal

    Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal

    Commissioned by
    United States Department of the Treasury, American, founded 1789
    Subject of
    Tuskegee Airmen, 1941 - 1946
    Created by
    United States Mint, American, founded 1792
    Medium
    gold
    Dimensions
    2 15/16 × 2 15/16 × 3/16 in. (7.5 × 7.5 × 0.5 cm)
    Type
    medals
    Date
    2007
    Caption
    The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian recognition awarded by the U.S. Congress. This medal was presented to the Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots flying for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Awarded on March 29, 2007, the medal recognized their “unique military record that inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.”
    Description
    A gold medal featuring three men in profile in the center, with "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN" at top and an eagle with spread wings at the bottom.
    Topic
    African American
    Civil Rights
    Military
    Tuskegee Airmen
    World War II
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
    Object number
    2007.8
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Awards and Medals
    Exhibition
    Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Badge from Madam C.J. Walker convention

    Badge from Madam C.J. Walker convention

    Created by
    Bastian Brothers Company, American, founded 1895
    Subject of
    Walker, Madam C.J., American, 1867 - 1919
    Photograph by
    Addison Scurlock, American, 1883 - 1964
    Subject of
    Walker, Madam C.J. Manufacturing Company, American, founded 1906
    Gause, Alice
    Medium
    brass (alloy), gold, lithographic ink on paper, metal, plastic and nitrocellulose
    Dimensions
    H x W: 4 5/16 x 2 3/8 x 5/16 in. (11 x 6.1 x 0.8 cm)
    Type
    portraits
    badges
    Place collected
    Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    ca. 1920s
    Caption
    Madam C. J. Walker (1867-1919) was an African American entrepreneur, educator and philanthropist. Her company manufactured, distributed, and sold hair care products developed for black women. She also established beauty schools across the country that trained women to work as agents, known as “hair culturists.” Walker’s beauty schools and manufacturing company offered unique opportunities for African American women when there were few job options beyond domestic service and manual labor. Pins such as this one were awarded to successful agents at annual conventions.
    Description
    A tiered pin or badge, in gold metal. The first tier features an illustration of clasped hands,the forearms and hands of two males shaking hands, the second tier is a rectangular white placard with the name, "Alice Gause" handwritten in black ink. The third tier features a circular shaped black and white portrait of Madame C.J. Walker in an ornate gold metal frame. The tiers are connected via chains.
    Topic
    African American
    Business
    Women
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Patricia Heaston
    Object number
    2008.15.2
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Memorabilia and Ephemera
    Exhibition
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • <I>Southern Railway No. 1200</I>

    Southern Railway No. 1200

    Railroad passenger car from the "Jim Crow" era
    Created by
    Pullman Palace Car Company, American, 1867 - 1981
    Used by
    Southern Railway Company, American, 1894 - 1990
    Medium
    steel and glass
    Dimensions
    H x W: 170 x 120 in., 153900 lb., 936 in. (431.8 x 304.8 cm, 69808.6 kg, 2377.4 cm)
    Type
    passenger cars
    Date
    1922
    Description
    A Southern Railway No. 1200 heavyweight passenger coach with segregated compartments. The sides of the car are green with yellow or gold lettering, with [1200] appearing on both ends of both sides of the car, and [SOUTHERN] printed on both sides of the car above the windows. The roof of the car is black, as are the underframe, air brakes, and pipes.
    Topic
    African American
    Segregation
    Transportation
    Travel
    United States--History--1919-1933
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pete Claussen and Gulf and Ohio Railways
    Object number
    2009.28
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Transportation Vehicles
    Exhibition
    Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • <I>The Boss</I>

    The Boss

    Created by
    Polk, P. H., American, 1898 - 1984
    Subject of
    Unidentified Woman or Women
    Medium
    silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
    Dimensions
    H x W: 10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm)
    Type
    gelatin silver prints
    portraits
    Place captured
    Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    1932
    Description
    Silver gelatin photograh featuring an image of African American woman wearing headscarf with her hands placed on her hips.
    Topic
    African American
    Agriculture
    Photography
    Women
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Delano A. Willis
    Object number
    2009.30.1
    Restrictions & Rights
    © Tuskegee University Archives
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Media Arts-Photography
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • <I>George Washington Carver in Laboratory</I>

    George Washington Carver in Laboratory

    Created by
    Polk, P. H., American, 1898 - 1984
    Subject of
    Carver, George Washington, American, 1860s - 1943
    Medium
    silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
    Dimensions
    H x W (Image and Sheet): 9 7/16 × 7 3/8 in. (24 × 18.7 cm)
    Type
    gelatin silver prints
    portraits
    Place captured
    Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    ca. 1930
    Description
    Silver gelatin photograh featuring an image of George Washington Carver shown in a laboratory wearing an apron and holding a beaker in his left hand.
    Topic
    African American
    Education
    Photography
    Science
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Delano A. Willis
    Object number
    2009.30.2
    Restrictions & Rights
    © Tuskegee University Archives
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Media Arts-Photography
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

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