Published by

Mix Publishing Company, American

Edited by

Little, Morris G.

Chaney, Arthur

Photograph by

Davenport, Oscar P. Jr.

Subject of

Fitzgerald, Ella, American, 1917 - 1996

NAACP Youth Council, American, founded 1936

Jeter-Pillars Orchestra, American, founded 1933

Medium

ink on paper with metal

Dimensions

H x W x D (Closed): 11 × 8 5/8 × 1/8 in. (28 × 21.9 × 0.3 cm)

H x W x D (Open): 11 × 17 1/4 × 1/16 in. (28 × 43.8 × 0.2 cm)

Type

magazines (periodicals)

Place printed

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, North and Central America

Date

October 1939

Description

Mix Pictorial Magazine, vol. 1 no. 3, featuring three (3) black-and-white photographs on the front cover. The top fourth of the front cover is the masthead. The masthead is in a black field with the magazine title in white text that reads, [MIX], on the left in a stylized font, and [Pictorial Magazine] on the right. Just below is the magazine’s subtitle, [Voice of the Nation's Mixologist], printed in black text over a narrow white stripe above two (2) black lines. Below is a white field with the main cover line, [The Winners! / (SEE CENTER PAGES)] printed in black ink and the magazine date and price, [October] and [15¢] printed in white in a black rectangular illustration featuring a dog and a pumpkin. To the left and below the cover line are three (3) black-and-white photographs printed in two (2) black circles and a square. In the top left corner is a circular shaped photograph of a woman holding a trophy and flowers. Three (3) men and a woman standing next to the woman with the flowers. Below, on the left, is a square shaped photograph of two (2) men and two (2) women standing closely together. Below, to the right, is a circular shaped photograph of a woman holding a trophy and flowers. To her right are two (2) women. Along the bottom edge is a narrow black field with white text that reads, [Theatrical Society Radio Sport] with star symbols in front of each word. Along the right edge of the front cover of the magazine is a handwritten inscription in black ink that reads, [To my future / Laura / Richard / Hughes]. The back cover also features three (3) black-and-white photographs printed in two (2) circles and a square. In the top left corner is a circular shaped photograph of six (6) men. Below is a caption title that reads, [MAKING DANCE PLANS]. In the top right corner is a square shaped photograph of men and women seated at a long table. Below is a caption title that reads, [“TAKING ON A FEED”]. In the bottom left corner is a circular shaped photograph of a man and a woman embracing. Above is a caption title that reads, [NOTED “PRO’ IN TOWN]. The bottom right corner features an advertisement for Hyde Park beer. The interior pages features black-and-white text, photographs, and illustrations. This magazine issue is twenty-five (25) pages including the interior page of the back cover.

Transcription Center Status

Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic

African American

Business

Entertainers

Fashion

Journalism

Mass media

Musicians

Nightlife

Recreation

Urban life

Credit Line

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

Object number

2013.46.25.273

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

The Laura Cathrell Show-Down Magazine Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Published by

Paramount Pictures, American, founded 1912

Subject of

Cole, Nat King, American, 1919 - 1965

Kitt, Eartha, American, 1927 - 2008

Bailey, Pearl, American, 1918 - 1990

Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994

Fitzgerald, Ella, American, 1917 - 1996

Jackson, Mahalia, American, 1911 - 1972

Dee, Ruby, American, 1924 - 2014

Juano Hernández, 1896 - 1970

Medium

ink on poster board

Dimensions

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

Type

lobby cards

Place depicted

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, North and Central America

Date

1958

Description

A lobby card for the movie St. Louis Blues. The card features a depiction of four cast members on the right: Barney Bigard, Nat "King" Cole, Eartha Kitt, and Cab Calloway. To the left of that image is a red square with the title: [St. Louis Blues] inside, and below the title a list of film credits.

Topic

African American

Actors

Blues (Music)

Film

Credit Line

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

Object number

2010.34.14

Restrictions & Rights

© 1958 Paramount Pictures. Permission required for use.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Wynn, Zelda, American, 1905 - 2001

Worn by

Fitzgerald, Ella, American, 1917 - 1996

Medium

synthetic fiber, velvet, glass beads, plastic sequins, and metal fasteners

Dimensions

H x W: 46 x 20 in. (116.8 x 50.8 cm)

Type

gowns

Date

late 1940s

Description

This black beaded full-length gown was designed by Zelda Wynn and worn by Ella Fitzgerald. The dress is made from black synthetic crepe fabric that is hand beaded with black glass seed and bugle beads, and black sequins in a floral vine design. The bodice is short-sleeved and has a scoop neck in the front and a V-neck in the back. There is a metal zipper in the center back that goes to the hip, and a hook-and-eye at the top of the zipper. The gown has a princess cut waist, but there is no seam at the waist. The gown has a column skirt with a slit on the proper right side that is 24 1/2" high and contains a rounded hem. At the top of the slit, there is a pre-tied black velvet bow that is sewn to the dress.

The dress is fully lined with a black synthetic fabric, except at the bottom of the sleeves. The hem of the sleeves, the interior neck line, and the skirt hem are finished with black ribbon. The designer label on the interior proper left back of the bodice is cream with black embroidered text and reads: "Zelda Wynn / NEW YORK, N.Y."

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Fashion

Fashion design

Jazz (Music)

Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Estate of Ella Fitzgerald

Object number

2010.20.1

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Fashion

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

Loper, Don, American, 1906 - 1972

Worn by

Fitzgerald, Ella, American, 1917 - 1996

Medium

silk, rayon, and foil cloth, silk chiffon, silk satin, synthetic fiber, and metal fasteners

Dimensions

H x W: 38 x 21 in. (96.5 x 53.3 cm)

Type

cocktail dresses

Date

1950s

Description

This yellow and orange cocktail dress was designed by Don Loper and worn by Ella Fitzgerald. The bodice of the dress is fitted with a sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps. It is made from a yellow, white, and silver metallic woven floral design. The bodice ends at the hip with a knee-length circle skirt below it. The skirt is made from two (2) layers of marigold colored silk chiffon with an underskirt made from a chartreuse synthetic fabric. The dress closes at the center back with a metal zipper that extends from the top of the bodice to below the hip, with top layer of the chiffon skirt slit and finished with a rolled hem, but not attached to the zipper. There is one (1) metal hook at the top of the zipper that attaches around a yellow thread loop and one (1) hook and thread loop closure at the bottom of the bodice.

The interior of the bodice is lined with cream silk satin. The seams of the bodice are pressed open and pinked. Cream woven tape is sewn to the side of each shaping seam with boning inside the tape, twelve (12) in total. At the center front an additional length of boning encased in orange rayon fabric is attached between the breasts. Sweat guards are whip stitched at both underarms. The guard on the proper left side has a white plastic side and a plain cotton side while the guard on the proper right side has two plain cotton sides. The skirt has no additional lining beneath the chartreuse underskirt.

Topic

African American

Clothing and dress

Costume

Costume design

Jazz (Music)

Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Estate of Ella Fitzgerald

Object number

2010.20.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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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

Photograph by

Spitzer, David D., American

Subject of

Fitzgerald, Ella, American, 1917 - 1996

Medium

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

Dimensions

H x W (Image): 13 13/16 x 9 1/2 in. (35.1 x 24.2 cm)

H x W (Sheet): 13 13/16 x 10 11/16 in. (35.1 x 27.1 cm)

H x W (Matted): 20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.6 cm)

Type

gelatin silver prints

portraits

Place captured

Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Date

1978

Description

A black-and-white photograph of Ella Fitzgerald on stage in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She stands in a spotlight on stage just in front of a piano. She is wearing a floor length black dress and is holding a corded microphone in her left hand.

Topic

African American

Jazz (Music)

Photography

Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of David D. Spitzer

Object number

2012.164.19

Restrictions & Rights

© David D. Spitzer

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

McNeill, Robert H., American, 1917 - 2005

Subject of

Fitzgerald, Ella, American, 1917 - 1996

Unidentified

Club Bali, American, founded 1943

Medium

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

Dimensions

H x W x D (image): 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)

Type

gelatin silver prints

portraits

Place depicted

14th and T Streets, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

Date

1930s

Description

A black and white photograph of Ella Fitzgerald and an unidentified person dressed as the Philip Morris Mascot at Club Bali. Fitzgerald is holding a microphone stand and looking to her proper right. She is wearing a dress with a flower design down the front. The Phillip Morris Mascot is wearing a Philip Morris uniform with a badge on the chest that reads: [Call for / Philip Morris].

Topic

African American

Advertising

Entertainers

Local and regional

Nightlife

Photography

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Graham Holdings Company, © Robert H. McNeill

Object number

2014.276.2.6

Restrictions & Rights

© Robert H. McNeill. Permission required for use.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Robert McNeill Photographs

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture