Distributed by

Big World Productions, American

Owned by

Brown, James, American, 1933 - 2006

Subject of

Lowell Memorial Auditorium, American, founded 1922

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 17 × 11 in. (43.2 × 28 cm)

Type

portraits

broadsides

Place used

Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Date

2003

Description

A black-and-white broadside for a James Brown concert at Lowell Memorial Auditorium. The broadside has white lettering at top that reads “BIG WORLD PRODUCTIONS presents / LOWELL / MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM / FRIDAY JANUARY 17 / 8:00pm / The Godfather of Soul.” At the center of the broadside is an image of James Brown singing with his eyes closed. He is holding a microphone close to his mouth with his right hand. Written below the image in gray text is “James / BROWN.” At the bottom of the page are telephone numbers for Ticketmaster and the box office. Big World Production’s logo and web address is also at the bottom.

Topic

African American

Communication

Funk (Music)

Soul (Music)

Credit Line

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

Object number

2008.7.19

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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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

Photograph by

Robert Houston, American, born 1935

Subject of

Miles Davis, American, 1926 - 1991

Medium

digital

Dimensions

H x W: 5604pixels × 9079pixels

Type

portraits

digital images

Place depicted

Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Date

1970

Description

This image depicts the musician Miles Davis playing the trumpet. This close up shows Davis from chest upwards. Head bent, trumpet to his lips, Davis grasps the instrument with both hands. He wears a light colored long sleeved shirt.

Topic

African American

Jazz (Music)

Photography

Credit Line

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

Object number

2014.116.30

Restrictions & Rights

© Robert Houston

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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

Photograph by

Robert Houston, American, born 1935

Subject of

Miles Davis, American, 1926 - 1991

Medium

digital

Dimensions

H x W: 5604pixels × 9079pixels

Type

portraits

digital images

Place depicted

Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Date

1970

Description

This image depicts musician Miles Davis playing the trumpet. Viewed from the shoulders up, and his eyes are cast downward. His hands are visible as he holds his instrument to his lips. He wears a light colored shirt with a scarf around his neck. A microphone is visible at the extreme right of the image.

Topic

African American

Jazz (Music)

Photography

Credit Line

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

Object number

2014.116.31

Restrictions & Rights

© Robert Houston

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Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Received by

Rev. Selden, David, American, 1761 - 1825

Written by

Selden, David, American, born 1785

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W (folded): 9 15/16 × 7 7/8 in. (25.2 × 20 cm)

H x W (unfolded): 9 15/16 × 15 5/8 in. (25.2 × 39.7 cm)

Type

letters (correspondence)

Place used

Charleston, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America

Chatham, East Hampton, Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States, North and Central America

Date

March 5, 1800

Description

This letter was written from Charleston, South Carolina, on March 5, 1800, by David Selden to his parents in Chatham, Connecticut. Selden lists several cities he has recently traveled to including New York and Philadelphia, with future destinations including Georgetown and Georgia. After describing the weather and spring blossoms of Charleston, Selden writes, "I cannot but reflect on the awfull sight to be seen at a place called Gadsdens wharf of about four thousand poor africans naked/in a manner/ and lousy[.] The most distressing sight I ever beheld offered for sale every day at Auction to him who will give the most." The letter is posted specifically to his father Reverend David Selden of Chatham, Connecticut, but the salutation reads "Dear parents".

Topic

African American

Africa

American South

Business

Correspondence

Middle Passage

Slavery

Trans Atlantic slave trade

United States--History--1783-1815

Urban life

Credit Line

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

Object number

2014.174.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Slavery and Freedom Objects

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

American Watch Company

Used by

Henson, Matthew A., American, 1866 - 1955

Subject of

Henson, Matthew A., American, 1866 - 1955

Peary, Robert E., American, 1856 - 1920

Medium

nickel , metal and glass

Dimensions

H x W x D: 3 1/4 × 2 1/4 × 3/4 in. (8.3 × 5.7 × 1.9 cm)

Type

pocket watches

Place used

North Pole, Arctic

Place made

Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Greenland, Cape Morris Jessup, North and Central America

Date

1888-1889; inscribed 1908 or 1909

Caption

An engraved watch that is believed to be the watch carried by Matthew Henson (1866-1955) on his exploration of the North Pole along with Adm. Robert E. Peary from July 6, 1908 to April 23, 1909. Henson is an iconic figure among American pioneering explorers. During the 1908-09 expedition led by Admiral Peary (whom he assisted on several Arctic expeditions over a 20-year period), Henson became the first man to reach the North Pole. For his achievements, Henson received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944. In 2000, the National Geographic Society awarded Henson the Hubbard Metal – its highest award.

Description

This pocket watch belonged to Matthew Henson and is engraved with his initials. The watch is silver in color and the words [R.E. PEARY / NORTH POLE / EXPEDITION / 1908] are engraved on the front in an Edwardian style. Henson's initials [M.A. HENSON] are engraved on the side. The watch has a white face with black hands and roman numerals. The watchmaker's name [Am. Watch Co. / WALTHAM] is printed in the top center of the face. The inside of the watch is engraved with the watchmaker's name [American Waltham Watch Co.] and the serial number [3639616].

Topic

African American

Men

Nature

Science

Technology

United States--History--1865-1921

Credit Line

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

Object number

2017.31

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Adornment

Tools and Equipment-Personal use

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photograph by

Warren, George Kendall, died 1884

Subject of

Hewlett, Aaron Molyneaux, American, 1820 - 1871

Medium

albumen and silver on paper on pasteboard

Dimensions

H x W: 13 1/8 × 10 in. (33.3 × 25.4 cm)

Type

photographic prints

portraits

Place made

Harvard University, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Date

1859-1871

Description

This photographic print depicts Aaron Molyneaux Hewlett, the first African American gymnasium coach at Harvard University. Hewlett is seated and is surrounded by a variety of exercise equipment. He wears a striped three-piece suit and a dark necktie. The print is cut in an oval shape and mounted on thick pasteboard that is tinted a light tan around the print. The text "Warren Phot." is printed in the lower left corner of the tinted paper. Written in the top left corner of the reverse in blue ink is the text, "1866-BOSTON / "HARVARD".

Topic

African American

Education

Health

Photography

Recreation

Sports

Credit Line

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

Object number

2014.174.9

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Written by

Chandler, D. L., American

Received by

Sklarek, Norma Merrick, American, 1926 - 2012

Subject of

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, American, founded 1861

Owned by

Sklarek, Norma Merrick, American, 1926 - 2012

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 11 × 8 1/2 in. (27.9 × 21.6 cm)

Type

letters (correspondence)

Place made

Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America

Date

September 29, 1976

Description

Letter from DL Chandler to Norma Merrick Sklarek. The white paper has a black and red printed letterhead from the Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The letter is handwritten in blue ink and dated in the upper right corner. The letter begins [DEAR MS. SKLAREK - / I AM VERY SORRY FOR THE LONG DELAY IN RELAYING YOUR COPY TO YOU.] Chandler discusses a potential topic, “Architectural History of Black America,” for a PhD thesis and asks for permission to include research on Sklarek. Chandler also asks for information about other African American women architects to contact. The reverse is blank.

Topic

African American

Architecture

Correspondence

Education

United States--History

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of David Merrick Fairweather and Yvonne Goff

Object number

TA2018.23.3.1.11.10

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Archival Collections

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture