NMAAHC Collections Search

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

Lying Lips

16mm motion picture film of Lying Lips

Directed by: Oscar Micheaux, American, 1884 - 1951
Written by: Oscar Micheaux, American, 1884 - 1951
Subject of: Harris, Edna Mae, American, 1910 - 1997
Produced by: Oscar Micheaux, American, 1884 - 1951

Medium: 16mm Film (a): acetate film;; 16mm Film (b): acetate film;; 16mm Reel (c): metal;; 16mm Reel (d): metal;; 35mm Film Canister (e): plastic;
Dimensions: Duration: 56 Minutes; Length (Film Reel 1): 1100 Feet; Length (Film Reel 2): 1000 Feet

Type: motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place filmed: New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1939

Caption: A nightclub singer is wrongfully convicted of murder. A detective with romantic motivation, sets out to prove her innocence.
Description: 2015.167.13.1ab: 16mm black and white films.; 2015.167.13.1cd: Original metal, 16mm film reels.; 2015.167.13.1e: 35mm Film Canister.; Nightclub singer, Elsie Bellwood, refuses to go out with two Italian customers who want to sponsor a party with some of the showgirls, despite the urgings of her white boss, Farina. Farina decides to call on her black manager, Benjamin Hadnott, to try to convince her, but Ben refuses and quits his job. That evening, Elsie has dinner with Ben, who tells her that he has been studying to become a detective. Believing he is trying to conceal his unemployment, Elsie decides to take care of Ben until he gets a new job. One evening, Elsie is summoned to her Aunt Josie's, only to find that Josie has been killed. When the police arrive, the white police lieutenant decides to arrest Elsie, even though black detective Wanzer believes she is innocent. Desperate, Elsie gives Ben's address to Wanzer, and he and Ben agree to do what they can to help her. Elizabeth Green, Elsie's cousin, suggests a possible motive for the murder when she tells the police that Elsie had taken out a large insurance policy on her aunt. Meanwhile, Elsie's cousins, "John" and "Clyde," who have been hired by Farina to replace Ben, claim they saw Elsie leave the club for a half hour around the time of the murder. Although she denies their statement, Elsie is convicted of the murder. When Ben and Wanzer learn that "Ned" Green, Elizabeth's husband, was in love with Josie, they question Reverend Bryson, a longtime friend of the family, who tells them the story of Ned: Elizabeth forced Ned to marry her by tricking him into believing that she was pregnant. When Ned found out that she had lied, he left her without waiting for an annulment. Elizabeth and her unscrupulous brothers then followed Ned to the north, where he went to be near his true love, Josie. John and Clyde eventually found Ned and forced him to return to Elizabeth. Now, years later, Ned has disappeared again, and to help find him, Ben suggests that he and Wanzer abduct John and tell him they are taking him for a ride to haunted Tolston Manor. When they accuse John of killing Josie, he admits that he lied to shift the blame to Elsie. Ned, it is learned, decided he would kill Josie if she did not run away with him. When the police realize that the frame-up was planned in order to get the insurance money from Elsie, Elsie is released from prison. Once reunited with Ben, Elsie gives him the money, which he puts into a trust fund for their 'children'.; Source: AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Accessed August 11, 2016 (http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=2284)

Topic: African American; Musicians; Nightlife; Race films; Urban life; Violence

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Randall and Sam Nieman

Object number: 2015.167.13.1ab

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Nieman Film Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Poster for the American Negro Exposition in Chicago

Illustrated by: Pious, Robert Savon, American, 1908 - 1983

Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 21 7/16 × 13 3/4 in. (54.5 × 35 cm)

Type: posters

Date: 1940

Caption: The American Negro Exposition took place at the Chicago Coliseum, July 4 through September 2, 1940. The event recognized two important occasions: the 75th anniversary of the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery and the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Featuring the contributions of African Americans to American life since 1865, the Exposition was considered the first Negro World's Fair and the first time that African Americans had the opportunity to present themselves and their stories to the world.
Description: A poster for the American Negro Exposition at the Chicago Coliseum. The image on the poster is of a male standing behind a female. They have their heads turned to their right and have their arms raised. In their right hands they are holding a book and a gear. In their left hands they are holding a document and a broken chain. The background is a pink mountain-scape with Abraham Lincoln’s face at center with a blue sky and pink clouds. Agricultural tools are at the bottom. Black text at the top center of the poster reads: [AMERICAN NEGRO EXPOSITION.] Brown text at the center of the poster reads: [1865] and [1940.] Blue text on a black background at the bottom of the poster reads: [CHICAGO COLISEUM / JULY 4 TO SEPT. 2.] Small black text at the bottom of the poster reads: [AMERICAN NEGRO EXPOSITION HEADQUARTERS, 3632 SOUTH PARKWAY, CHICAGO.]

Topic: African American; Advertising; Communities; Design; Emancipation; Festivals; United States--History--1933-1945

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Gift of Ingrid Rose in Memory of Milton M. Rose

Object number: 2015.178

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photographic plate for the April 1937 edition of The Show-Down Magazine

Photograph by: Battelle, Hughey J.
Subject of: Greeley, Aurora, American, 1905 - 1983; Hubbard, Margie; Broomfield, Leroy, American, 1902 - 1971; Edgbert, Marion; Moses, Ethel, American, 1904 - 1982; McCormack, Dolly; Moses, Julia, American; Sampson, Selma; Key, Alice, American, 1911 - 2010; Gray, Wilhemina; Brown, Paul; Ubangi Club, American, 1934 - 1944; The Show-Down, American, founded 1935

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper on cardboard
Dimensions: H x W x D (Overall): 12 1/4 × 5 11/16 × 1/16 in. (31.1 × 14.5 × 0.1 cm); H x W (Image and sheet): 3 5/8 × 3 5/16 in. (9.2 × 8.4 cm); H x W (Image and sheet): 3 9/16 × 1 7/8 in. (9 × 4.8 cm); H x W (Image and sheet): 4 7/16 × 5 3/16 in. (11.3 × 13.1 cm); H x W (Image and sheet): 4 × 5 7/16 in. (10.2 × 13.8 cm)

Type: gelatin silver prints; portraits

Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1937

Description: A photographic plate for page 9 of the April 1937 edition of The Show-Down Magazine with four (4) photographs. The photographs are adhered to a cardboard backing. On the back of the plate are handwritten notations in pencil.; 2013.46.25.267a: A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Aurora Greeley. Greeley is centrally depicted, set against a black background. She is depicted from the chin up, looking down towards the bottom edge of the photograph. She is wearing a white blouse and earrings. Greeley’s hair is pulled back and her bangs are trimmed in a high, straight line across her forehead. Her eyebrows are drawn in thin arches and she is wearing dark lipstick. The top of the photograph has been torn off, so the top of her head is not visible. There are no inscriptions on the front of the photograph.; 2013.46.25.267b: A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Margie Hubbard. Hubbard is depicted standing on the Ubangi Club stage. Her body turn slightly towards the right edge of the image, her arms extended at her sides, and her proper right leg is extended behind her with her toes pointed down and towards the viewer. Hubbard is wearing medium toned overalls with front pockets over a black, short sleeve blouse. On the stage behind her is a set painted with a series of small buildings and houses. The top of the photograph has been torn off, so her head is not visible. There are no inscriptions on the front of the photograph.; 2013.46.25.267c: A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Leroy Broomfield and the Ubangi Club dancers. The nine (9) are depicted standing, kneeling, and seated in three rows. In the top row, from left to right, is Margie Hubbard, Marion Edgbert, Leroy Broomfield, Ethel Moses, and Dolly McCormack. Hubbard is wearing overalls over a black blouse. Edgbert is wearing a medium toned, satiny button down top with three (3) white button down the center and white lapels. There is satin flower pinned to her proper right shoulder. Broomfield is wearing a dark toned three-piece suit and a white collared shirt, with the top button undone. Ethel Moses is wearing a one piece, bathing suit costume. The top of the suit has a halter neck and a diagonally striped top. The bottom of the suit is dark with a striped belt that matches the top of the suit. On the far right is McCormack. She is wearing a black sweater vest over a white blouse with a tie front and black pants. In the middle row, from left to right, is Julia Moses and Selma Sampson. Julia Moses is wearing a medium toned garment with a bow tied at the front. Sampson is wearing a white blouse with the letters [S S] stitched on the front. In the bottom row, from left to right, is Alice Key and Wilhelmina (Tondelayo) Gray. Key is wearing a white, short sleeve blouse with a black skirt. Gray is wearing light toned sailor-style shirt with a bow tied in the front and wide legged, matching pants. On the stage behind them is a set painted with a series of small buildings and houses. There are no inscriptions on the front or back of the photograph.; 2013.46.25.267d: A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Paul Brown and the Ubangi Club dancers. The nine (9) are depicted standing in a line with their bodies facing the left edge of the photograph and their hands resting on the forearms of the person in front of them. From left to right is Margie Hubbard, Dolly McCormack, Alice Key, Marion Edgbert, Wilhelmina (Tondelayo) Gray, Ethel Moses, Julia Moses, Selma Sampson, and Paul Brown. Hubbard is wearing medium toned overalls over a black, short sleeve blouse. McCormack is wearing a black sweater vest over a white blouse with a tie front and black pants. Key is wearing a white, short sleeve blouse and a floor length, black satiny skirt. Edgbert is wearing a medium toned, short sleeve blouse with white lapels. Gray is wearing light toned sailor-style shirt and wide legged, matching pants. Ethel Moses is wearing a floral patterned robe over a one piece, bathing suit costume. The top of the suit has a halter neck and a diagonally striped top. The bottom of the suit is dark with a striped belt that matches the top of the suit. Julia Moses is wearing a medium toned, long sleeve dress. Sampson is wearing a white blouse and a long black skirt. Brown is wearing a dark toned suit, a white collared shirt, medium toned tie, and a white pocket square in his proper left breast pocket. On the stage behind them is a set painted with a series of small buildings and houses. There are no inscriptions on the front of the photograph.

Topic: African American; Actors; Dance; Entertainers; Jazz (Music); Mass media; Nightlife; Photography

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.46.25.267a-d

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: The Laura Cathrell Show-Down Magazine Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Ku Klux Klan Night Hawk robe used by Stetson Kennedy

Created by: Unidentified
Used by: Kennedy, Stetson, American, 1916 - 2011
Subject of: Ku Klux Klan, 2nd, American, 1915 - 1944

Medium: cotton, rayon, and plastic
Dimensions: H x W (Robe): 48 1/4 × 26 1/4 in. (122.6 × 66.7 cm); H x W (Belt): 2 7/16 × 76 3/4 in. (6.2 × 194.9 cm)

Type: robes

Place used: Florida, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1970-2011

Description: A Ku Klux Klan (KKK) robe (a) with belt (b), associated with 2011.144.2.2ab, a hood and mask with a liner, worn by the Night Hawk rank officers whose main role is to act as security at "klonvocations." The Night Hawk's robe is usually shorter so as to allow easier movement. This particular Night Hawk robe was owned by writer and human rights activist Stetson Kennedy, who infiltrated the KKK in the 1940s, exposing its secrets to authorities and the outside world. The navy blue cotton calf-length robe has has full length straight sleeves.The robe is collarless and has an attached cape that fully drapes over the front of the shoulders. There are five (5) black plastic snap fasteners sewn on to the center front button band from the collar to the waist. Over the proper right breast is a machine embroidered rayon patch of a white skull outlined in black with the letters [KKK] embroidered in red on the forehead of the skull. Over the proper left breast is a machine embroidered rayon patch of a white cross outlined in black against a red background with a “blood drop” positioned vertically in the center of the cross. The black lines on the patch are four K’s arranged to look like a cross. The design is typically referred to as the "Mystic Insignia of a Klansman" (MIOAK). The interior of the hem is reinforced with white, cotton tape. The robe is not lined.; The belt is made of the same plain, navy blue cotton fabric as the robe, and has been hemmed down the length of the belt and at both ends.

Topic: African American; American South; Clothing and dress; Fraternal organizations; Men; Social reform; United States--History--1933-1945; United States--History--1945-1953; United States--History--1953-1961; United States--History--1961-1969; United States--History--1969-2001; United States--History--2001-; White supremacy movements

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Sandra A. Parks, wife of Stetson Kennedy

Object number: 2011.144.2.1ab

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Clothing-Historical

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Lobby card for Lying Lips

Distributed by: Micheaux Film and Book Company, American, 1918 - 1940
Directed by: Oscar Micheaux, American, 1884 - 1951
Subject of: Harris, Edna Mae, American, 1910 - 1997; Jones, Robert Earl; Unidentified Man or Men

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions: H x W: 11 × 14 in. (28 × 35.6 cm)

Type: lobby cards

Place used: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1939

Description: This lobby card for Lying Lips depicts four people, three men and one woman. Starting at the right of the card is a man sitting at a tall desk looking at the other three people. He is wearing a dark blue long sleeve shirt. The second man is wearing a police officer's uniform and is standing to the right of the woman depicted. The third man is standing behind the woman and is wearing a dark suit, red tie, and dark hat. The woman is wearing a plaid coat over a green shirt and a red hat. In the bottom right hand corner, the lobby card has text in blue and green that reads "With/ Edna Mae Harris/ The personality girl/ and an all-star/ colored cast."

Topic: African American; Actors; Independent films; Justice; Race films

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.124

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Tap shoes used by Sammy Davis Jr.

Manufactured by: Windsor Shoe Company, American
Used by: Davis, Sammy Jr., American, 1925 - 1990

Medium: leather, rubber, cotton, and metal
Dimensions: H x W x D (Left (a) overall): 3 × 2 5/8 × 7 11/16 in. (7.6 × 6.7 × 19.5 cm); H x W x D (Right (b) overall): 2 7/8 × 2 3/4 × 7 9/16 in. (7.3 × 7 × 19.2 cm)

Type: shoes (footwear)

Place used: United States, North and Central America
Place made: Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1938

Description: This pair of child's tap shoes were used by Sammy Davis Jr. when he travelled the vaudeville circuit as part of the Will Mastin Trio. The shoes have black leather uppers and close across the center front over a split vamp with a tongue using black cotton shoelaces tipped with plastic or leather aglets. The leather outsoles are machine stitched to the midsole and the uppers as in a welted shoe. Rubber heels are adhered to the soles. Stamped onto the bottom of the heels is a "W" inside of a shield with the word "WINDSOR" below the shield. Metal toe taps are nailed to the outsole and metal heel taps are nailed to the rubber heel. The heel taps have an open area in the middle so that the manufacturer's mark can be seen on the rubber heel bottom.

Topic: African American; Actors; Children; Clothing and dress; Tap dancing; Vaudeville

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.302ab

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Clothing-Costume
Exhibition: Musical Crossroads
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Little Sunshine Al Jolson in "Big Boy"

Subject of: Jolson, Al, American, died 1950
Composed by: Mitchell, Sidney D., American, 1888 - 1942; Gottler, Archie, American, 1896 - 1959; Meyer, George W., American, 1884 - 1959
Published by: M. Witmark & Sons, American, 1886 - 1929
Owned by: McDonald, Vernon Sugg, American, 1906 - 1982

Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 11 7/8 × 1/16 in. (30.2 × 0.2 cm)

Type: sheet music

Place collected: Sugg McDonald House, Sonora, California, United States, North and Central America
Place printed: New York, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1930

Description: Sheet music for the song "Little Sunshine" from the film Big Boy starring Al Jolson. The front cover of sheet music features a large black and white photo of Al Jolson's face in blackface set against an orange background. Black type on top portion of the cover reads: [LITTLE SUNSHINE / WARNER BROS. PRESENT / AL JOLSON / IN / "BIG BOY"]. Type near bottom right corner of the cover reads: [WORDS & MUSIC BY / SIDNEY MITCHELL / ARCHIE GOTTLER / AND / GEO. W. MEYER]. Underneath, is the publisher’s information which reads: [M. WITMARK & SONS / NEW YORK / MADE IN U S A]. Type in bottom left corner reads: [TOMORROW / IS ANOTHER DAY / LITTLE / SUNSHINE / LIZA / LEE / HOORAY FOR / BABY AND ME / WITH BANJO, UKULELE / GUITAR & MANDOLA / ACCOMPANIMENT.]. [Vernon Mcd. / 404] is handwritten, in pencil, at the top of the cover. The interior of the front cover has an additional song in black ink. The interior of the sheet music contains three pages of sheet music, in black ink, for Big Boy. The back cover has a black and white photograph of Dorothy Mackaill and a few bars of music.

Topic: African American; Actors; Blackface; Minstrel (Music)

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Sylvia Alden Roberts

Object number: 2014.275.16

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Documents and Published Materials-Sheet music

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photographic print of Ethel Waters in costume

Photograph by: Charles "Teenie" Harris, American, 1908 - 1998
Subject of: Waters, Ethel, American, 1896 - 1977

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W (Image): 6 1/2 × 8 11/16 in. (16.5 × 22.1 cm); H x W (Sheet): 8 × 10 in. (20.3 × 25.4 cm)

Type: gelatin silver prints

Place depicted: Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: February - April 1940

Description: A black and white photograph of Ethel Waters backstage in costume for a performance in Pittsburgh. She wears a kerchief covering her hair, a long sleeved blouse, striped skirt, and checkered apron; her hands rest on her lap underneath the apron. Waters is seated in a corner in front of two walls lined with radiators. The back of the photograph has two barcode stickers, one with caption information, and a yellow circle sticker.

Topic: African American; Actors; Broadway Theatre; Entertainers; Photography; Singers (Musicians); United States--History--1933-1945

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Charles A. Harris and Beatrice Harris in memory of Charles "Teenie" Harris

Object number: 2014.302.43

Restrictions & Rights: © Carnegie Museum of Art, Charles "Teenie" Harris Archive

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

Dark Manhattan

16mm motion picture film of Dark Manhattan

Directed by: Fraser, Harry L., American, 1889 - 1974
Subject of: Cooper, Ralph, American, 1908 - 1992; Brooks, Clarence, American, 1896 - 1969; Stewart, Nicodemus, United States, 1910 - 2000

Medium: 16mm Film (a): acetate film;; 16mm Film (b): acetate film;; Film Shipping Container (c): cardboard;
Dimensions: Duration: 77 Minutes; Length (Film Reel 1): 1050 Feet; Length (Film Reel 2): 1300 Feet

Type: motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place depicted: Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place filmed: Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1937

Caption: A small time hood becomes the protégé of the biggest mob boss in town. After taking over the criminal operation, trouble ensues as thugs and crooks all fight for control of the Harlem numbers racket.
Description: 2015.167.5.1ab: 16mm black and white film.; 2015.167.5.1c: Original cardboard film shipping box. No legible inscriptions.; In "Dark Manhattan", a lad who takes control of the policy racket in Harlem, meets a sweet and clean nightclub singer and falls in love with her. Before they can get married, a rival gang tries to muscle into the numbers racket and, at the end, the lad gets shot-gunned and dies in the arms of his girl.; When Larry B. "L. B." Lee, the top numbers banker in Harlem, visits the poolroom of one of his accounts, Jack Jackson, he witnesses James A. "Curly" Thorpe break up a knife fight and, impressed with his performance, asks Curly to join his organization, which he emphasizes does not use underhanded methods. Curly quickly distinguishes himself as tough on district operators, whose business is declining, and grows ambitious in his desire to be the most talked about man in Harlem. He also wants to steal the affections of L. B.'s girl friend, Flo Gray, a radio singer who appears at the Club Congo. After L. B., who has been warned by his doctor to take a rest, has a heart attack while dining with Flo, Curly runs the operation while L. B. recuperates. Curly institutes gangster methods to force smaller operations to pay for protection, and doubles the bank's income, which causes ten days of gang warfare and police raids, culminating in a district attorney's effort to smash the numbers racket. Although Curly and Flo keep newspaper reports away from L. B., the heads of the other numbers banks reveal the situation to him, after which he promises to redistribute the money his bank made. Curly, however, refuses to part with the money made since he took over and prevails upon L. B. to take a trip for his health. After Curly tells the bankers' association that he wants twenty percent from every banker for protection, Butch Williams, a rival who operates at the Club Congo, offers protection for five percent. During a shoot out at the club, Curly is mortally wounded, and he dies in the arms of Flo, who has grown to love him.; Sources:; AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Accessed August 12, 2016 (http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=2228); WorldCat. Accessed August 12, 2016 (http://www.worldcat.org/title/dark-manhattan/oclc/57689321&referer=brief_results); Consists of: 16mm Flim (a), 16mm Flim (b), and Original Film Shipping Box (c).

Topic: African American; Actors; Business; Race films; Urban life; Violence

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Randall and Sam Nieman

Object number: 2015.167.5.1abc

Restrictions & Rights: Public Domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Nieman Film Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Wooden clapper from the Cotton Club promoting Ethel Waters

Subject of: Waters, Ethel, American, 1896 - 1977; Cotton Club, American, 1923 - 1940

Medium: ink on wood with metal
Dimensions: H x W: 2 × 8 1/2 × 7/8 in. (5.1 × 21.6 × 2.2 cm)

Type: noisemakers

Place used: Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date: ca. 1933

Description: This is a wood clapper instrument with black etched type on front and back. Consisting of three pieces of wood, two small rectangles are attached via thin metal strips to the large paddle-shaped base, one on each side. There is black type on both small wooden rectangles. The type on one side of the clapper reads, "The Cotton Club/ Aristocrat of Harlem/ Lenox Ave. & 142nd St. / Phone Bradhurst 2-7767-1687." On reverse side type reads, "Hear/ Ethel Waters/ Sing/ Stormy Weather/ Geo. Dewey Washington." There is a decorative border in black ink around both rectangles. There is text on the reverse side at one end of the rectangle that reads "National Bo [illegible] Co. / [illegible] west 64th [illegible]."

Topic: African American; Actors; Jazz (Music); Nightlife; Popular music; Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, gift of Dwandalyn R. Reece in memory of Pauline Watkins Reece

Object number: 2015.45.3

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements
Exhibition: Musical Crossroads
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Lobby card for The Song of Freedom

Distributed by: Hammer Films, British, founded 1934
Subject of: Robeson, Paul, American, 1898 - 1976

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions: H x W (Image): 10 1/16 × 13 in. (25.6 × 33 cm); H x W (Sheet): 11 1/16 × 14 in. (28.1 × 35.6 cm)

Type: lobby cards

Place used: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1936

Description: The lobby card depicts three men in the foreground with five men in the background. The men in the background are working with large barrels and cans, while the three men up front appear to be talking to each other. The first man on the left wearing blue overalls is sitting. The other two standing men are both in long sleeve shirts with their sleeves rolled up. One man's shirt is yellow while the other is red. In the left of the lobby card in the border are depictions of bodiless heads on spikes. The lobby card reads "Song of Freedom, Inc. / presents/ Paul Robeson in/ The Song of Freedom."

Topic: African American; Africa; Opera (Music); Race films

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.139.2

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Lobby Card for Temptation

Distributed by: Micheaux Film and Book Company, American, 1918 - 1940
Directed by: Oscar Micheaux, American, 1884 - 1951
Subject of: Bishop, Andrew S., American, 1894 - 1959; Moses, Ethel, American, 1904 - 1982; Tucker, Lorenzo, American, 1907 - 1986; Minnelli, Vincente, American, 1903 - 1986

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions: H x W: 10 11/16 × 14 in. (27.2 × 35.5 cm)

Type: lobby cards

Place used: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1935

Description: A lobby card for the 1935 film "Temptation". In the top left corner in red text reads "Oscar Micheaux". Below that in blue it reads "Presents/ A Great colored cast in". Below the writing is a picture bordered in red. Starting to the left of the picture is a man in a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up and an unbuttoned brown vest over it with matching brown slacks. He is wearing a double colored sock tie and looking to his left. Behind him and to the right is a shorter man with a full brown suit, dark tie, and brown hat looking in the direction of the first man. To the right of the second man is a third man who is taller than the other two men depicted. He is wearing a dark blue shirt with a pocket square and a tie. He appears to be looking and pointing at the first man described. To the right of the picture bordered in red is a picture of a woman in a slightly transparent dress that reveals her shoulders and starts at her arms and chest. Her left hand is over her right breast as she looks up and to her right. Below both pictures, text outlined in green it reads "Temptation Distributed by/ Micheaux Pictures Corporation/ New York City." On the back of the lobby card, "1940" is written in red.

Topic: African American; Actors; Advertising; Entertainers; Race films; Segregation; Sexuality; Stereotypes

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.143.1

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Poster for A Daughter of the Congo

Distributed by: Micheaux Film and Book Company, American, 1918 - 1940
Directed by: Oscar Micheaux, American, 1884 - 1951
Subject of: Unidentified Woman or Women

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)

Type: posters

Place used: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1930

Description: A poster for the film A Daughter of the Congo. This poster depicts a woman standing on the right side margin. She is dressed in beads, a skirt, and a top covering her mid-section and leaving her shoulders exposed. Her hands are up in a defensive position. Text on the poster reads "Daughters[sic] / of the/ Congo/ Oscar/ Micheaux's/ Production/ with an all-star/ Colored/ Cast/ Talking/ Singing/ Dancing."

Topic: African American; Africa; Independent films; Race films; Slavery; Stereotypes

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.148

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Film still for The Emperor Jones

Distributed by: Screencraft Pictures, American, founded 1932
Subject of: Robeson, Paul, American, 1898 - 1976

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W (Image): 7 5/16 × 9 5/8 in. (18.6 × 24.4 cm); H x W (Sheet): 8 1/16 × 10 1/8 in. (20.5 × 25.7 cm)

Type: gelatin silver prints; film stills

Place used: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1933

Description: A black and white movie still for The Emperor Jones. Written in the top left-hand corner in black text it says "Screencraft/ Pictures/ Presents." Immediately to the right of the writing is an image of a man that takes up most of the space in the photograph. The man is holding his clenched left fist as he looks up and over his right shoulder. He is wearing a stripe patterned jumpsuit. To the right of the man in large black font it says "Paul/ Robeson." Below him it says "In/ Emperor Jones/ with Dudley Diggs/ From the stage play by Eugene O'Neil."

Topic: African American; Entertainers; Race films

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.165.1

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography; Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Film still for The Emperor Jones

Distributed by: United Artists Corporation, founded 1919
Subject of: Robeson, Paul, American, 1898 - 1976; Unidentified Man or Men

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W (Image): 7 1/16 × 9 5/16 in. (17.9 × 23.7 cm); H x W (Sheet): 7 3/4 × 9 7/16 in. (19.7 × 24 cm)

Type: gelatin silver prints; film stills

Place used: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1933

Description: A movie still of a scene from The Emperor Jones. Depicted are four men. Starting from the left, the first man is dressed very formally while he is holding a coat in both his hands and looking over to his left. The second man, standing in the center of the frame, is looking straight ahead while he holds a glass in his right hand. He wears black boots that stop right below his knee caps. To the left of him are two men. They are dressed identically to the first man depicted. One of the men appears to be adjusting a piece of clothing on the second man depicted while the fourth man to the far right of the photograph is watching. Written in the bottom border of the photograph it says "John Krimsky and Gifford Cochran present Paul Robeson in "The Emperor Jones"/ United Artists Picture Made in U.S.A." On the back of the photo, in the top middle section is a rectangular piece of tape. There is writing on the back.

Topic: African American; Entertainers; Hollywood (Film)

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.165.4

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography; Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Program for The Negro Soldier

Distributed by: United States Department of War, American, 1789 - 1947
Produced by: Capra, Frank, American, 1897 - 1991
Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions: H x W: 13 5/8 × 10 1/2 in. (34.6 × 26.7 cm)

Type: programs

Place used: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1944

Description: A pamphlet for the documentary The Negro Soldier. The pamphlet is four pages. The first page has the title "The Negro Soldier" in the bottom right hand corner. Surrounding the title in six separate little sections are military and war photos depicting people and weapons. On the second page the heading reads "Exploitation." Below that is a list numbered one through eleven with varying titles. The third page is titled "Publicity." There is a small photo depicting a military man in a hat in the top left hand corner. The rest of the page is an article with three more small photographs in the bottom right hand corner of the page. The last page is titled "Advertising." Below the heading are four text boxes.

Topic: African American; Military; Race films; Segregation; World War II

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.266

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Program for Swing

Distributed by: Micheaux Film and Book Company, American, 1918 - 1940
Produced by: Oscar Micheaux, American, 1884 - 1951
Subject of: Green, Cora, American; Alex Lovejoy, American, 1893 - 1946; Diaz, Hazel, American, 1908 - 1997

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions: H x W: 7 13/16 × 10 in. (19.9 × 25.4 cm)

Type: programs

Place used: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1938

Description: A program for the movie Swing. The program is two pages front and back. On the front page red text reads "Oscar Micheaux Presents/ Swing! / with an all/ Colored/ Cast/ Starring/ Cora Green/ Hazel Diaz/ Carman Newsome/ Dot Van Engle/ Alec Lovejoy/Consuelo Harris/ Tyler Twins/ Trixie Smith." There is an image in a central oval of two women, one in a bikini, one in a light colored dress, and a man in a suit.

Topic: African American; Actors; Independent films; Race films; Segregation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.278

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Lobby card for Bargain with Bullets

Distributed by: Million Dollar Productions, American, 1937 - 1940
Produced by: Popkin, Harry M., American, 1906 - 1991
Subject of: Cooper, Ralph, American, 1908 - 1992; Harris, Theresa, American, 1911 - 1985; Criner, John L., American, 1898 - 1965

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions: H x W (Image): 9 13/16 × 12 15/16 in. (25 × 32.8 cm); H x W (Sheet): 11 × 14 in. (28 × 35.5 cm)

Type: lobby cards

Place filmed: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1937

Description: This lobby card depicts seven men. The man in the bottom left hand corner is sitting in a chair with his hands crossed. The other three men on the left side of the card are all standing. One is in a red suit, another in a green suit, and the third in a grey suit. The man in the green suit is holding a gun to the back of the man in the grey suit. The last three men depicted are all on the right side of the card. Two are sitting at a table while the last is in the back corner of the room they’re in. In the bottom right hand corner, it reads "Ralph/Cooper/ Bargain/with/Bullets."

Topic: African American; Actors; Independent films; Race films

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.86.2

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Lobby card for Bargain with Bullets

Distributed by: Million Dollar Productions, American, 1937 - 1940
Produced by: Popkin, Harry M., American, 1906 - 1991
Subject of: Cooper, Ralph, American, 1908 - 1992; Harris, Theresa, American, 1911 - 1985; Criner, John L., American, 1898 - 1965

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions: H x W (Image): 9 13/16 × 12 15/16 in. (25 × 32.8 cm); H x W (Sheet): 11 × 10 1/16 in. (28 × 25.5 cm)

Type: lobby cards

Place filmed: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1937

Description: This lobby card depicts three men. The first man starting from the left of the photo is getting into a yellow car and is wearing a grey suit and light colored hat. The second man to his left is in a black suit and wearing a black hat and the third man is to the right of the second wearing a brown suit and dark colored hat. In the bottom right hand corner text reads "Ralph/Cooper/ Bargain/with/Bullets."

Topic: African American; Actors; Independent films; Race films

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.86.5

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

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