Written by

Hurston, Zora Neale, American, 1891 - 1960

Published by

J. B. Lippincott & Co., American, 1836 - 1978

Medium

ink on paper with cloth, cardboard, metallic paper and acetate film

Dimensions

H x W x D (Closed): 8 1/4 × 5 5/8 × 1 1/2 in. (21 × 14.3 × 3.8 cm)

Type

hardcover books

Place printed

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Place made

Eau Gallie, Brevard County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

Eatonville, Orange County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Florida, United States, The Everglades, North and Central America

Date

1937

Description

A signed, first edition hardcover book with dust jacket and a clear, protective plastic cover. The book takes place in early twentieth century Florida. The book recounts the life story of the protagonist, Janie Crawford, a young woman born during the Reconstructionist Era. The dust jacket is gold with central, black and white illustration featuring a male God-like figure in against a stormy sky. The figure is throwing down gold-colored lightening and thunderbolts to the flooded land below. In the lower left corner of the image is a small grouping of trees blowing in the storm. Along the bottom of the illustration, roofs of structures can be seen just above the water. The image is bordered in black. Above and below the illustration on the front cover is text in black. At the top [THEIR EYES/WERE WATCHING GOD/A NOVEL]. Along the bottom [ZORA N· HURSTON]. The black text along the top of the white, back cover of the dust jacket reads: [Some Reviews / OF ZORA NEALE HURSTON’S PREVIOUS BOOK / “Mules and Men”], followed by five book review blurbs. The book has an orange cloth binding. The exterior spine is embossed with black text across the top and bottom of the spine. The text at the top of the spine reads [Their eyes / were / watching / God] above a black circle with a black dot in the center and [Hurston]. The name of the publishers [Lippincott] is embossed in black lettering across the bottom of the spine. The title of the book has been embossed on the front of the book in black lettering [Their eyes were / watching God / Zora Neale Hurston] just below seven black circles with black dots in the circles centers. The inside front cover is inscribed with red ink by the author [To/Miss Ruby Mc Knight/Using stars like stair-/steps -/Zora Neale Hurston]. The book is twenty chapters and two hundred and eighty-six pages long.

Topic

African American

American South

Language

Literature

Rural life

Segregation

Women

Credit Line

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

Object number

2014.315ab

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Exhibition

Cultural Expressions

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Unidentified

Owned by

Moore, Harry Tyson, American, 1905 - 1951

Medium

pigskin

Dimensions

H x W: 4 5/16 x 3 1/4 x 3/8 in. (11 x 8.3 x 1 cm)

Place collected

New Carrollton, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Mims, Brevard County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Date

early to mid 20th century

Description

Personalized pigskin wallet embossed with Harry T. Moore. This is a brown leather fold over wallet. Inside, it has two pockets in front and two interior pockets. There is also a bill fold running the length of the wallet. The bill fold and the interior pockets are lined with darker leather. One the right side, embossed in gold letters, is the name "HARRY T MOORE." Below in smaller letters, also gold, is embossed "Genuine Pigskin." The wallet fold is extremely worn and the surface of the leather is scarred and pitted.

Topic

African American

Civil Rights

Families

Hate crimes

Men

Resistance

Segregation

Violence

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Donated by Juanita Evangeline Moore, daughter; "Skip" Pagan, grandson; and Darren Pagan, great-grandson

Object number

2013.157.3

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Exhibition

Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Unidentified

Subject of

Moore, Harriette Vyda Simms, American, 1902 - 1952

Moore, Harry Tyson, American, 1905 - 1951

Owned by

Moore, Harriette Vyda Simms, American, 1902 - 1952

Medium

metal, silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

Dimensions

Diameter (closed): 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)

H x W (open): 2 7/16 x 1 3/8 in. (6.2 x 3.5 cm)

Type

lockets

gelatin silver prints

Place collected

New Carrollton, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Mims, Brevard County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Date

early to mid 20th century

Description

Locket belonging to Harriette Vyda Simms Moore with two black and white photographs inside of herself and her husband Harry Tyson Moore. This circular locket opens into two halves, each half with a small photograph. The outside of the locket is a gold colored metal, with a floral design engraved on the front half. The back half is plain. There is a small metal loop soldered to the top to attach a suspension chain. There is another small loop hanging from it. On the inside are two photographs, each framed by a copper colored ring set into the metal. The two photographs show each individual from the shoulders up. Harry Moore is wearing a suit with a high collar; Harriette Moore is wearing a light colored blouse with a fold over collar. The former gazes directly at the viewer, the latter is gazing away to the viewer's right. There are tree branches behind her and shrubs in the background behind him.

Topic

African American

Civil Rights

Clothing and dress

Resistance

Segregation

Violence

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Donated by Juanita Evangeline Moore, daughter; "Skip" Pagan, grandson; and Darren Pagan, great-grandson

Object number

2013.157.4

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Adornment

Exhibition

Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Unidentified

Worn by

Moore, Harriette Vyda Simms, American, 1902 - 1952

Medium

metal

Dimensions

H x W (Case): 1 1/8 x 1 x 1/4 in. (2.9 x 2.5 x 0.6 cm)

Diameter (Band): 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)

Type

wrist watches

Place collected

New Carrollton, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Mims, Brevard County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Date

early to mid 20th century

Description

Woman’s wrist watch worn by Harriette Vyda Sims Moore. The watch has a gold-colored face with black hour and minute hands and black numerals, some of which are partially worn away. Under the numeral six is the word "Swiss." The watch is housed in an eight sided watch case, also of a gold colored metal. Both the face and the case have swirling floral designs engraved on them. The two lugs on either side that attach the strap to the case are made of a dark brassy colored metal. They attach to two silver colored rings that make up the ends of the watch band. The band itself is a silver colored metal and has no clasp as it is a stretch band. It is possibly not contemporary to the watch itself. The back of the watch case has a decorative floral band around the edge. The center is plain, with numerous scratches. The crystal (glass) is missing.

Topic

African American

Civil rights

Clothing and dress

Education

Families

Hate crimes

Segregation

Violence

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Donated by Juanita Evangeline Moore, daughter; "Skip" Pagan, grandson; and Darren Pagan, great-grandson

Object number

2013.157.1

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Adornment

Tools and Equipment-Personal use

Exhibition

Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Illinois Watch Company, American, founded 1879

Owned by

Moore, Harry Tyson, American, 1905 - 1951

Medium

metal and glass

Dimensions

H x W: 2 5/16 x 1 11/16 x 5/16 in. (5.9 x 4.3 x 0.8 cm)

Type

pocket watches

Place collected

New Carrollton, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Mims, Brevard County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Date

ca. 1920s

Description

Pocket watch by Illinois Watch Company used by Harry Tyson Moore, Sterling model. It features a circular white face with black hands and numerals. Under the twelve it has the company and model name "ILLINOIS/ STERLING." There is a second smaller face for marking the seconds at the bottom of the main face. The casing is a plain brass colored metal with a loop and ridged crown at top. The back has a faint cross hatching pattern with a small heraldic crest in the center.

Topic

African American

Civil rights

Families

Hate crimes

Men

Resistance

Segregation

Violence

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Donated by Juanita Evangeline Moore, daughter; "Skip" Pagan, grandson; and Darren Pagan, great-grandson

Object number

2013.157.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Adornment

Tools and Equipment-Personal use

Exhibition

Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture