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  • Woodcarving of a slave trader with enslaved female figure

    Woodcarving of a slave trader with enslaved female figure

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    wood, glass, thread, cloth, paint, wool (hair), and bast fiber
    Dimensions
    Woodcarving: 24 × 18 9/16 × 8 1/2 in. (61 × 47.2 × 21.6 cm)
    Type
    carvings
    Place purchased
    Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Date
    19th century
    Description
    This object is a poly-chrome, three-dimensional, woodcarving depicting a male slave trader and a female slave standing on an elongated oval platform. Both figures are standing upright and facing the same direction with the male figure behind the female figure. The male figure is significantly larger than the female figure. He has short hair and is wearing a dark three-piece suit, belt with belt buckle, white collared shirt and a dark neck tie. There are two, small white objects in his left and right breast coat pockets. His proper right hand has a drilled hole through the fist. His proper left hand is slightly forward and he is holding a length of cord connected to the female figure. The cord ties her hands behind her back and wraps around her neck in a noose. The female figure is bald, wearing light colored earrings and is nude with the exception of a light colored breechcloth and four strings (two dark strings, two light strings) of glass beads around the waist. A piece of light cloth has been tied around the female figure’s upper torso.
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    Art
    Slavery
    Trans Atlantic slave trade
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
    Object number
    2014.122.1ab
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Scrapbook commemorating Nigerian independence compiled by Frances Albrier

    Scrapbook commemorating Nigerian independence compiled by Frances Albrier

    Created by
    Albrier, Frances M., American, 1898 - 1987
    Subject of
    Albrier, Frances M., American, 1898 - 1987
    Medium
    Album: cardboard, paper, string, pressure-sensitive tape;
    Clippings: ink on paper;
    Photographs: silver or dye and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
    Dimensions
    14 1/2 x 12 1/2 x 1 in. (36.8 x 31.8 x 2.5 cm)
    Type
    scrapbooks
    Place depicted
    Nigeria, West Africa, Africa
    Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Senegal, West Africa, Africa
    Place made
    Berkeley, Alameda County, California, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    1960
    Caption
    This scrapbook was compiled in 1960 by Frances Albrier after returning from a trip to Africa to document the celebrations surrounding Nigerian independence. The scrapbook contains newspaper and magazine clippings as well as photographs and ephemera from her time in Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria. Albrier attended the festivities as a representative of the California Voice, an African American newspaper based in Oakland, California.
    Description
    This scrapbook was compiled in 1960 by Frances Albrier after returning from a trip to Africa to document the celebrations surrounding Nigerian independence. The scrapbook contains newspaper and magazine clippings as well as photographs and ephemera from her time in Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria. The scrapbook contains 24 used pages, numerous unused pages, and two loose objects.
    Transcription Center Status
    Transcribed by digital volunteers
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    International affairs
    Mass media
    Travel
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Frances Albrier Collection
    Object number
    2010.60.2
    Restrictions & Rights
    Unknown - Restrictions Possible
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Memorabilia and Ephemera
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • String of cowrie shells

    String of cowrie shells

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    shell , string (fiber product)
    Dimensions
    H x W x D: 1/2 × 1 × 34 1/2 in. (1.3 × 2.5 × 87.6 cm)
    Type
    shell money
    Place used
    Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Nigeria, West Africa, Africa
    Maldives, Asia
    Date
    1800 - 1968
    Description
    A string of cowrie shells. There are sixty (60) tan and yellow colored cowrie shells on a string composed of multiple natural-colored strands twisted together. The shells do not create a distinct pattern and they are oriented on the string in varying positions.
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    Beauty culture
    Clothing and dress
    Finance
    Slavery
    Trans Atlantic slave trade
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Family of William & Mattye Reed
    Object number
    2014.182.59
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    William & Mattye Reed Family Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Adornment
    Exhibition
    Slavery and Freedom
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Wood hair comb from Ghana

    Wood hair comb from Ghana

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Owned by
    Reed, Mattye Marie, American, 1918 - 2003
    Dr. Reed, William E., American, 1914 - 2006
    Medium
    wood
    Dimensions
    H x W x D: 4 3/4 × 2 5/8 × 3/16 in. (12.1 × 6.7 × 0.5 cm)
    Type
    combs (grooming tools)
    Place made
    Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Date
    1950s
    Description
    This is a wooden afro pick comb from Ghana. Made of light colored wood, it is not glossy and has probably not been treated. Of the six teeth, one on the far left is broken off near the tip. There is an abstract design incised into the front of the comb. The top part of the design near the top of the handle of the comb is colored in a purple color. There is a hole at the end of the handle. A piece of masking tape with [GHANA] written in black ink is stuck to the reverse.
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    Hair
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Family of William & Mattye Reed
    Object number
    2014.182.99
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Tools and Equipment-Personal use
    Exhibition
    A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 1, C1 053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • Kay Tillow Oral History Interview

    Created by
    Civil Rights History Project, American, founded 2009
    Interview of
    Tillow, Kay, American
    Interviewed by
    Cline, David P. Ph. D., American, born 1969
    Subject of
    University of Illinois, American, founded 1867
    National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, American, founded 1909
    Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, American, 1960 - 1970s
    Service Employees International Union, American, founded 1921
    Coalition of Labor Union Women, American, founded 1974
    Medium
    digital
    Dimensions
    Duration: 01:12:48
    Type
    video recordings
    oral histories
    digital media - born digital
    Place collected
    Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States, North and Central America
    Place depicted
    Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
    Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
    Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi, United States, North and Central America
    Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    August 14, 2013
    Description
    The oral history consists of five digital files: 2011.174.99.1a, 2011.174.99.1b, 2011.174.99.1c, 2011.174.99.1d, and 2011.174.99.1e.
    Kay Tillow describes learning about the Civil Rights Movement as a student at the University of Illinois, where she got involved with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She remembers attending the trials of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) workers in Cairo, Illinois, and traveling to Ghana in 1962. When she returned to the United States in 1963 she participated in sit-ins in Atlanta, Georgia, and demonstrations in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She discusses her work with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1199, a hospital workers' union, and organizing victories in Pennsylvania. Tillow also discusses her role in the Coalition of Labor Union Women and her current work on health care reform.
    LOC ID: afc2010039_crhp0099
    Topic
    African American
    Activism
    Africa
    American South
    Associations and institutions
    Civil rights
    Education
    Labor
    Medicine
    Social reform
    United States--History--1961-1969
    Women
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in partnership with the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
    Object number
    2011.174.99.1a-e
    Restrictions & Rights
    © Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and The American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    Civil Rights History Project
    Classification
    Media Arts-Film and Video
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • Blue and orange printed fabric with custom printed portraits of Barack Obama

    Manufactured by
    GTP, Ghanian, founded 1966
    Printed by
    Peters, Shani, American, born 1981
    Subject of
    Cousins, Aisha, American
    President Barack Obama, American, born 1961
    Medium
    cotton
    Dimensions
    H x W: 46 7/8 × 68 1/8 in. (119 × 173 cm)
    H x W (Vertical Repeat): 6 5/16 in. (16 cm)
    H x W (Horizontal Repeat): 11 13/16 in. (30 cm)
    H x W (Printed Portrait): 10 1/2 × 7 11/16 in. (26.7 × 19.5 cm)
    Type
    textiles
    portraits
    Place printed
    Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
    Place made
    Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Date
    2011
    Description
    Length of printed textile by GTP (Ghana Textiles Printing Company) customized with added printed graphic portraits of Barack Obama. The fabric has a large scale stylized floral design of the same flower printed in repeating columns. The flowers are wider at the middle with feathery blue petals surrounding a chartreuse and orange center and burgundy and white dots in the very middle. The flowers are placed in columns with the top sections nearly touching, but not quite. In the next column, the flowers are placed so that the wider middle sections are in the space created by the thinner top and bottom sections of the surrounding columns. There is a deep burgundy solid ground behind the flowers. An oval-framed portrait of Barack Obama is custom printed in black and white onto the manufactured printed fabric. Text inside the frame reads "BLACK PRESIDENT'S DAY FEBRUARY 21, 2011 / BARACK OBAMA 44TH PRESIDENT OF TEH U.S.A." The added prints are placed on the fabric in a scattered manner. Manufacturer's information is printed on both selvedges that reads in repetition "GTP GUARANTEED REAL WAX PRINTED IN GHANA 16785".
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    African diaspora
    Design
    Identity
    Politics (Practical)
    Textile design
    United States--History--2001-
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley
    Object number
    2017.16.10
    Restrictions & Rights
    Unknown - Restrictions Possible
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Textiles
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • Commemorative textile in black with Obama campaign slogan Yes We Can

    Manufactured by
    Woodin, Ghanian, founded 1985
    Subject of
    President Barack Obama, American, born 1961
    Medium
    cotton
    Dimensions
    H x W: 47 5/8 × 71 5/8 in. (121 × 182 cm)
    Vertical Repeat: 24 in. (61 cm)
    Horizontal Repeat: 24 13/16 in. (63 cm)
    Type
    textiles
    Place made
    Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Date
    2008
    Description
    Length of commemorative printed textile by Woodin in black featuring Barack Obama campaign slogan "Yes We Can." The fabric has a background printed design of small black triangles arranged with their points away from each other, creating diamond with a white horizontal strip in the middle and white diamond shapes around the black triangles. The white diamonds have a pale lavender dot printed at the center. A black silhouette of the continent of Africa is printed repeatedly in a scattered design over the background. The silhouettes contain three (3) different motifs in white text, arranged to alternate on the silhouettes as placed on the fabric. One motif is the stylized "W" logo of the printer, Woodin, done in white in the left corner over West Africa. The second motif has a large white dot with the word "GHANA" to the right of the dot, placed along the Guinea coast corresponding to the geographic location of the country of Ghana. The third motif has the words of the Obama campaign slogan "yes / WE / CAN" printed across the continent. Manufacturer's information is printed along the bottom selvedge in repetition that reads "Noir et Blanc de woodin GHANA".
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    African diaspora
    Design
    Identity
    Politics (Practical)
    Textile design
    United States--History--2001-
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley
    Object number
    2017.16.11
    Restrictions & Rights
    Unknown - Restrictions Possible
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Textiles
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • Textile with portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama and John and Naadu Mills

    Manufactured by
    GTP, Ghanian, founded 1966
    Subject of
    President Barack Obama, American, born 1961
    First Lady Michelle Obama, American, born 1964
    President Mills, John Evans Fiifi Atta, Ghanian, 1944 - 2012
    First Lady Mills, Ernestina Naadu, Ghanian
    Medium
    cotton
    Dimensions
    H x W: 47 13/16 × 72 1/16 in. (121.5 × 183 cm)
    Horizontal Repeat: 25 in. (63.5 cm)
    Type
    textiles
    portraits
    Place made
    Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Date
    2008
    Description
    Length of commemorative printed textile by GTP (Ghana Textile Production) featuring portraits of President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Ghanian President John Mills, and Ghanian First Lady Naadu Mills. The fabric has a cream ground with an allover background design of a multi-colored lattice with a small five-pointed star where the lattice work crosses. A United States and Ghana flag with crossed poles are placed between the oval portraits of the political figures over the lattice work. The portraits are in four (4) rows, with the top and third rows having alternating portraits of the Obamas and the second and bottom rows having alternating portraits of the Mills. The portraits are also arranged so that a Michelle portrait is below a Barack portrait in the top row, and vice versa. The oval frames containing Obama portraits are double red lines with cream interiors and blue stars and text, and a blue banner around the bottom half outside the double lines. The oval frames containing Mills portraits are double red lines with yellow interiors and black stars and text, and a green banner around the bottom half outside the double lines. The text inside the double lines has the name of the person at the bottom center with three (3) five-pointed stars on each side. Text inside the banners underneath the frames contains the title of each figure: "PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"; "FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERA"; "PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA"; "FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA". The portraits appear to be drawings from photographs printed in black onto the cream ground. Printed along the top and bottom is the same border with three (3) stripes in red, yellow, and green and a cream interior. Black five-pointed stars are printed on top of the lined borders. Inside the border are a United States and a Ghanian flag with crossed poles printed in a repeating design. Every other pair of flags has the text "JULY - 2009" printed inside a blue outlined banner under the flags. The manufacturer's logo "GTP" inside a black oval and the text "GHANA 2405" are printed along both selvedges in repetition.
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    African diaspora
    Design
    Identity
    Politics (Practical)
    Textile design
    United States--History--2001-
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley
    Object number
    2017.16.12
    Restrictions & Rights
    Unknown - Restrictions Possible
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Textiles
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • Commemorative indigo resist textile with portrait and name of Barack Obama

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Subject of
    President Barack Obama, American, born 1961
    Medium
    cotton
    Dimensions
    H x W: 45 11/16 × 67 5/16 in. (116 × 171 cm)
    Type
    textiles
    portraits
    Place made
    Nyaniba Estates, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Date
    2009
    Description
    Length of commemorative printed textile by an unidentified printer and designer featuring portrait and name of Barack Obama. The fabric is dyed dark blue with resist design in white. There are four (4) rows with the same design of the text "OBAMA" but with the "O" being a face portrait of Barack Obama. These rows are surrounded by geometric stylized chain borders, with five (5) border rows in all.
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    African diaspora
    Design
    Identity
    Politics (Practical)
    Textile design
    United States--History--2001-
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley
    Object number
    2017.16.13
    Restrictions & Rights
    Unknown - Restrictions Possible
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Textiles
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • Commemorative indigo resist textile with flowers and portrait of Barack Obama

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Subject of
    President Barack Obama, American, born 1961
    Medium
    cotton
    Dimensions
    H x W: 45 1/2 × 70 1/16 in. (115.5 × 178 cm)
    Type
    textiles
    portraits
    Place made
    Nyaniba Estates, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Date
    2009
    Description
    Length of commemorative printed textile by an unidentified printer and designer featuring flowers and a portrait Barack Obama. The fabric is dyed dark blue with resist design in white. The design has a portrait of Barack Obama alternating with a six-petaled flower in rows and columns.
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    African diaspora
    Design
    Identity
    Politics (Practical)
    Textile design
    United States--History--2001-
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley
    Object number
    2017.16.14
    Restrictions & Rights
    Unknown - Restrictions Possible
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Textiles
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • Commemorative textile with portrait of Barack Obama on blue background

    Manufactured by
    Akosombo Textiles Limited, Ghanian, founded 1967
    Subject of
    President Barack Obama, American, born 1961
    Medium
    cotton
    Dimensions
    H x W: 45 1/16 × 72 13/16 in. (114.5 × 185 cm)
    Horizontal Repeat: 25 in. (63.5 cm)
    Type
    textiles
    portraits
    Place made
    Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Place collected
    Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Date
    2008
    Description
    Length of commemorative printed textile by Akosombo Textiles Limited featuring a portrait of Barack Obama. The fabric has a blue ground with a printed small-scale geometric design in dark blue. There is a 4 1/2 inch wide border printed at both selvedges featuring a dark blue geometric design of interlocking links resembling a woven or braided cord. Printed in a repeating design over the background are old five-pointed stars outlined in black alternate with an oval gold and dark blue frame with a red interior background featuring a photographic portrait of Barack Obama. Below the portrait is a banner with the text "BARACK OBAMA / 44TH PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES". The design is printed in two rows so that the portrait and star alternate positions both vertically and horizontally. Printed along the bottom selvedge is the text "ATL [inside oval frame] AKOSOMBO TEXTILES LIMITED". Printed along the top selvedge is the text "GUARANTEED SUPERB PRINTS RSP 5653".
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    African diaspora
    Design
    Identity
    Politics (Practical)
    Textile design
    United States--History--2001-
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley
    Object number
    2017.16.3
    Restrictions & Rights
    Unknown - Restrictions Possible
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Textiles
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • Commemorative textile in red with Obama campaign slogan Yes We Can

    Manufactured by
    Woodin, Ghanian, founded 1985
    Subject of
    President Barack Obama, American, born 1961
    Medium
    cotton
    Dimensions
    H x W: 47 5/8 × 71 5/8 in. (121 × 182 cm)
    Vertical Repeat: 24 in. (61 cm)
    Horizontal Repeat: 24 13/16 in. (63 cm)
    Type
    textiles
    Place made
    Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Africa
    Date
    2008
    Description
    Length of commemorative printed textile by Woodin in red featuring Barack Obama campaign slogan "Yes We Can." The fabric has a background printed design of small red triangles arranged with their points away from each other, creating diamond with a white horizontal strip in the middle and white diamond shapes around the red triangles. The white diamonds have a bright blue dot printed at the center. A red silhouette of the continent of Africa is printed repeatedly in a scattered design over the background. The silhouettes contain three (3) different motifs in white text, arranged to alternate on the silhouettes placed on the fabric. One motif is the stylized "W" logo of the printer, Woodin, done in white in the left corner over West Africa. The second motif has a large white dot with the word "GHANA" to the right of the dot, placed along the West African coast corresponding to the geographic location of the country of Ghana. The third motif has the words of the Obama campaign slogan "yes / WE / CAN" printed across the continent. Manufacturer's information is printed along the bottom selvedge in repetition that reads "Noir et Blanc de woodin GHANA".
    Topic
    African American
    Africa
    African diaspora
    Design
    Identity
    Politics (Practical)
    Textile design
    United States--History--2001-
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Catherine E. McKinley
    Object number
    2017.16.9
    Restrictions & Rights
    Unknown - Restrictions Possible
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Textiles
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture