NMAAHC Collections Search

CC0

Flier for a pre-march Freedom Rally for the Meredith Marchers

Created by: Unidentified
Subject of: Tougaloo College, American, founded 1869; Davis, Sammy Jr., American, 1925 - 1990; Brown, James, American, 1933 - 2006; Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003; Kitt, Eartha, American, 1927 - 2008; Brando, Marlon, American, 1924 - 2004; Lancaster, Burton Stephen "Burt", American, 1913 - 1994

Date: 1966

Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: L x W: 8 1/2 x 11 in. (21.6 x 27.9 cm)

Description: An off-white flier with black ink that announces a: "Pre-March Freedom Rally" for the Meredith Marchers. The flier states: "Come to Tougaloo Campus Sat., June 25th, 8:00 P.M. to welcome the Meredith Marchers to Jackson". The flier advertises: "See!! / Hear!! / Sammy Davis / James Brown/ Nina Simone / Eartha Kitt / Marlon Brando / Burt Lancaster / and others".

Place depicted: Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Hinds County, Mississippi, United States, North and Central America

Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements
Movement: Civil Rights Movement

Type: fliers (printed matter)

Topic: Activism; Actors; American South; Civil rights; Entertainers; HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities); Musicians; U.S. History, 1961-1969

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Trumpauer-Mulholland Collection

Object number: 2011.109.5

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

Usage: CC0

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5f0f55d83-62e6-4869-a2fe-417d29883641

CC0

Ticket for funeral services for Martin Luther King, Jr.

Created by: Unidentified
Subject of: Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
Used by: Morehouse College, American, founded 1867
Owned by: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003

Date: April 9, 1968

On View Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Exhibition: Musical Crossroads

Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 2 1/8 x 5 1/4 in. (5.4 x 13.3 cm)

Description: An admission ticket to satellite funeral services for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Morehouse College. The back is blank.

Place used: Morehouse College, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America

Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Movement: Civil Rights Movement

Type: passes (tickets)

Topic: Civil rights; Funeral customs and rites; HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities); U.S. History, 1961-1969

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

Object number: 2011.132.4.2

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

Usage: CC0

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5cacc834d-8e2d-4fe6-bf45-84b5f02ae268

Photograph of McDew, Hansberry, Simone, Bikel, and Forman

Created by: Unidentified
Subject of: Hansberry, Lorraine, American, 1930 - 1965; Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003; Bikel, Theodore, American, born 1924; Forman, James, American, 1928 - 2005; McDew, Charles F., American, born 1938

Date: 1961-1962

On View Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Exhibition: Musical Crossroads

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W: 10 x 8 1/8 in. (25.4 x 20.6 cm)

Description: A black and white photograph of (from left to the right): Charles McDew, Lorraine Hansberry, Nina Simone, Theodore Bikel, and James Forman during a rally for Freedom Riders in New York City. Paper attached to the back of the image has several inscriptions identifying the photograph.

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

Classification: Media Arts-Photography
Movement: Freedom Riders

Type: gelatin silver prints; portraits

Topic: Activism; Civil rights; Entertainers; Photography; U.S. History, 1961-1969

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Collection of Andy Stroud

Object number: 2011.152.1

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd58a192ba9-5bba-4960-bac0-a32c85f2ea74

Four Women

Directed by: Dash, Julie, American, born 1952
Recorded by: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003
Subject of: Young, Linda Martina, American
Owned by: Bowser, Pearl, American, born 1931

Date: 1975

Medium: acetate film, metal and plastic
Dimensions: Duration: 8 Minutes; Length (Film): 300 Feet

Title: 16mm motion picture film of Four Women

Caption: This 16mm film by Julie Dash uses dance to explore African American female identity and stereotypes. The featured dancer is Linda Martina Young, and the accompanying music is "Four Women" by Nina Simone.
Description: Consists of a single reel of 16 mm color film.The film begins with a completely black frame with the sound of chanting in the background before the title of the film appears. There is then a series of closeup shots of a dancer (L. Martina Young) underneath a large sheet of translucent fabric and large sheets of cloth as the dancer slowly moves. The sound changes to an unidentified indigenous group singing and chanting as the dancer continues to move under the fabric. As the dancer continues her interpretive moves, the sound again changes to that of a whip being used, the sound of running water, and the sound of moaning/wailing voices. In the following sequence, Nina Simone’s “Four Women” begins to play and the dancer’s costume changes to a long dress and shawl, which reflects the first character of the song, Aunt Sarah. The Aunt Sarah character is representative of slavery. In the next series of shots, the dancer has changed to a black dress and black veil as Simone describes the next character, Safronia, who is of mixed race and the product of her mother being raped by a white man. As Simone begins describing the next character, Sweet Thing, a prostitute with both black and white clients, there are close up shots of the body part being described. The dancer has changed to a loose floral print dress and her hair is no longer tied back or hidden by a veil. In the fourth and final sequence, the dancer is wearing cornrows and has changed to a brightly colored tube top and matching pants to represent Simone's character, Peaches, a black woman toughened by generations of oppression. Prior to the song’s and the film’s conclusion, there is a brief montage of all four women as portrayed by the dancer.
Statement: Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.

Place filmed: United States, North and Central America

Collection title: Pearl Bowser Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Film and Video; Racist and Stereotypical Objects

Type: color films (visual works); 16mm (photographic film size)

Topic: Dance; Film; Identity; Stereotypes; Women

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser

Object number: 2012.79.1.40.1abc

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd51bd4be51-d8ef-4b92-93ed-770198aae8b6

Flier advertising performances at the Apollo Theater

Commissioned by: Apollo Theater, founded 1934
Printed by: Unidentified
Subject of: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003; Cooke, Sam, American, 1931 - 1964; Franklin, Aretha, American, 1942 - 2018; Silver, Horace, American, 1928 - 2014; Stitt, Sonny, American, 1924 - 1982; Moody, James, American, 1925 - 2010; Benton, Brook, American, 1931 - 1988; Briggs, Bunny, American, 1922 - 2014; Jefferson, Eddie, American, 1918 - 1979; The Flamingos, American, founded 1953; Little Anthony and the Imperials, American, founded 1958
Owned by: Ginger Smock, American, 1920 - 1995

Date: 1961

Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 11 × 4 1/4 in. (28 × 10.8 cm)

Description: A white Apollo Theater flier with blue text and images owned by Ginger Smock. The front of the flier advertises concerts at the theater for the week of Feb. 10, 1961 and has images and names of the people performing. Nina Simone, Horace Silver, Sonny Stitt, James Moody and Eddie Jefferson are pictured. The back of the flier advertises concerts at the theater for the week of Feb. 17th. The top has the Apollo Theater logo and address. Below the logo are images of Brook Benton, The Flamingos, Sam cook and Aretha Franklin as well as the names of additional performers.

Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Type: fliers (printed matter)

Topic: Jazz (Music); Rhythm and blues (Music); Soul (Music)

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Lydia Samuel Bennett

Object number: 2016.161.8

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd585a5518e-fdc4-4110-9c97-7afdd50197a2

CC0

Promotional card for a piano recital given by Eunice Waymon (Nina Simone)

Printed by: Unidentified
Subject of: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003; National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc., founded 1919

Date: 1954

On View Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Exhibition: Musical Crossroads

Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 2 1/4 x 3 7/8 in. (5.7 x 9.8 cm)

Description: An advertising card for a piano recital performed by Eunice Waymon at age 21. The recital cost $1.30 to attend and was sponsored by the Philadelphia Branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc.

Place depicted: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera

Type: advertising cards

Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)

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

Object number: 2011.132.2

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

Usage: CC0

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e353db53-8f11-4ae9-bd32-30ed154bbaf3

Et Smil Og Noen Ord / Vaer Slik Som Du Er

Published by: Triola, Norweigan, 1957 - 1983
Composed by: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003
Recorded by: Karlsen, Webe, Norwegian, born 1953

Date: 1970

On View Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Exhibition: Musical Crossroads

Medium: vinyl , ink on cardboard
Dimensions: H x W: 6 7/8 x 6 7/8 in. (17.5 x 17.5 cm)

Title: 45 rpm cover of Nina Simone's To Be Young, Gifted and Black, by Webe Karlsen

Description: A 7 inch, 45 rpm record featuring Norwegian artist Webe Karlsen. On this record Karlsen preforms: "Et Smil Og Noen Ord" (A Smile and Some Words) on side a and "Vaer Slik Som Du Er" (Be as You Are) on side b. Be as You Are is a cover of Nina Simone's "To Be Young, Gifted and Black." The record (2011.132.8.4a) is black vinyl with a red label at its center. The album cover (2011.132.8.4b) features a picture of Karlsen with red and black text that reads: [TRIOLA TN 589 STEREO / et smil og noen ord / WE BE / vaer slik som du er]. An inscription in blue ink over the side b song title on the cover reads: [TO BE YOUNG GIFTED AND BLACK]. The back of the cover advertises other records from the Triola record company.

Place made: Norway, Europe

Classification: Media Arts-Audio Recordings

Type: record covers; 45 rpm records

Topic: Composers (Musicians); Jazz (Music); Popular music; Race relations; Rhythm and blues (Music); Singers (Musicians)

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

Object number: 2011.132.8.4ab

Restrictions & Rights: © 1970 Triola Records. Permission required for use.

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd501ec29d4-d549-4004-974a-ae34e3f8796b

Letter to Andy Stroud from Nina Simone

Written by: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003
Received by: Stroud, Andy, American, died 2012
Subject of: American Society of African Culture, American, 1956 - 1969

Date: December 1961

On View Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Exhibition: Musical Crossroads

Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W (letter): 10 1/4 x 8 in. (26 x 20.3 cm); H x W (envelope): 4 1/16 x 8 3/4 in. (10.3 x 22.2 cm)

Caption: Nina Simone traveled to Nigeria in December 1961 for the Lagos Festival, sponsored by the American Society of African Culture (AMSAC). Simone traveled with a group of 33 African American artists, performers, and educators. Included in the delegation were Odetta, Randy Weston, Geoffrey Holder, Natalie Hinderas, and Lionel Hampton. One of the goals of AMSAC was to expose African Americans to their African heritage. The Lagos Festival was the group's first event in Africa and coincided with the first anniversary of Nigerian independence. As part of the festival, a cultural center was opened and two public concerts were held.; This was Simone's first visit to Africa and this intimate letter written to her new husband Andy Stroud shares her first impressions of Lagos. Looking back on the experience in her 1991 autobiography, Simone wrote, "All around us were black faces, and I felt for the first time the spiritual relaxation any Afro American feels on reaching Africa. I didn't feel like I'd come home when I arrived in Lagos, but I knew I'd arrived somewhere important and that Africa mattered to me."
Description: A four page letter, with envelope, to Andy Stroud from Nina Simone. Simone is writing from Lagos, Nigeria, and comments on locals, accomodations, and her love for her husband. The letter is handwritten in blue ink on stationery from the Federal Palace Hotel. Simone dated the letter only as [December '61] in the top right corner. The envelope is postmarked December 17, 1961.

Place made: Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa, Africa

Classification: Documents and Published Materials

Type: letters (correspondence)

Topic: Africa; Correspondence; Families; Musicians; Travel

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

Object number: 2011.132.3a-e

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd58ec74b95-e684-48c6-abe7-2bcf007b1507

Mississippi Goddam / Sea Lion Woman

Published by: Sam Fox Publishing Company, American, founded 1906; Philips Records, American, founded 1950
Recorded by: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003
Produced by: Mooney, Hal, American, 1911 - 1995

Date: 1964

On View Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Exhibition: Musical Crossroads

Medium: vinyl , ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 6 7/8 x 6 7/8 in. (17.5 x 17.5 cm)

Description: A 7 inch, 45 rpm record of Nina Simone performing Mississippi Goddam and Sea Lion Woman. The album (2011.132.9a) has a black and white label at its center. The album cover (2011.132.9b) is a black in on paper. It has the title and text about the recording. The back of the cover is blank.

Classification: Media Arts-Audio Recordings

Type: record covers; 45 rpm records

Topic: Jazz (Music); Popular music

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

Object number: 2011.132.9ab

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5f13ae961-8948-4337-a877-b3f8ccece6e2

Photographic print of Nina Simone and Dick Gregory

Photograph by: Ball, George
Subject of: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003; Gregory, Dick, American, 1932 - 2017

Date: 1968

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W: 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (24.1 x 19.1 cm)

Description: A black and white photograph of Nina Simone and Dick Gregory in London, England. The back of the photograph has a stamp with the photographer's information and the date.

Place depicted: London, England, Europe

Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Type: gelatin silver prints; portraits

Topic: Entertainers; Photography; Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Collection of Andy Stroud

Object number: 2011.152.2

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5476cf580-71a8-4e37-a17f-b57f1aae0777

Nina Simone, 1977

Photograph by: Spitzer, David D., American
Subject of: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003

Date: 1977

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W (Image): 13 11/16 x 9 3/16 in. (34.8 x 23.4 cm); H x W (Sheet): 14 x 10 1/2 in. (35.5 x 26.6 cm); H x W (Matted): 20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.6 cm)

Description: A black-and-white photograph of singer Nina Simone performing in Coral Gables, FL. Simone is photographed in profile from the right. She holds a microphone in her right hand and her left hand is extended in front of her. She wears a light colored dress and large dangling earrings.

Place captured: Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Type: gelatin silver prints; portraits

Topic: Folk (Music); Instrumentalists (Musicians); Jazz (Music); Photography; Rhythm and blues (Music); Singers (Musicians)

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

Object number: 2012.164.125

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5aef07a27-2926-401d-93ec-7c82b2087f1a

Nina Simone - Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass. - 1969

Photograph by: Robert Houston, American, born 1935
Subject of: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003

Date: 1969

Medium: digital
Dimensions: H x W: 10592pixels × 8873pixels

Description: This image depicts musician Nina Simone sitting at a piano. Sitting sideways to the viewer at a piano, microphone set up in front of her, she turns her head slightly to her right. She wears a silky, long sleeve dress with jeweled buttons at the cuffs, and a sparkly headband.

Place depicted: Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Type: portraits; digital images; digital media - born analog

Topic: Blues (Music); Folk (Music); Jazz (Music); Photography; Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert and Greta Houston

Object number: 2014.116.27

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5309a317d-6d8f-4dd7-aea3-64894b092bb3

Nina Simone - Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass. - 1969

Photograph by: Robert Houston, American, born 1935
Subject of: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003

Date: 1969

Medium: digital
Dimensions: H x W: 9195pixels × 8873pixels

Description: This image depicts musician Nina Simone during a concert. Sideways to the viewer, she turns her head to her right, her mouth open, while gesturing with her right hand. There is a microphone positioned directly in front of her.

Place depicted: Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Type: portraits; digital images; digital media - born analog

Topic: Blues (Music); Civil Rights; Folk (Music); Jazz (Music); Photography; Social reform

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert and Greta Houston

Object number: 2014.116.28

Usage: Usage conditions apply

GUID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5d19d3274-c09b-4a56-b6ac-da912e1a7991

Nina Simone - Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass. - 1969

Photograph by: Robert Houston, American, born 1935
Subject of: Simone, Nina, American, 1933 - 2003

Date: 1969

Medium: digital
Dimensions: H x W: 10941pixels × 9690pixels

Description: This image depicts musician Nina Simone sitting at a piano. Sitting sideways to the viewer at a piano, a microphone is set up in front of her. Her hands are posed on the keys of the piano. She wears a silky, long sleeve dress with jeweled buttons at the cuffs, and a sparkly headband.