Photograph by

Walery, founded 1888

Subject of

Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975

Medium

silver and gelatin on photographic paper

Dimensions

H x W (Image): 10 3/4 × 7 7/8 in. (27.3 × 20 cm)

H x W (Sheet): 11 13/16 × 8 5/16 in. (30 × 21.1 cm)

Type

gelatin silver prints

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Place depicted

Paris, Île-de-France, France, Europe

Date

1926-1935

Description

A black and white photograph of Josephine Baker performing the Charleston on stage at Folies Bergère. The photograph features Baker at center standing on a reflective stage. She is doing the Charleston and looking to the left of the photograph. Behind her, a backdrop of an art deco style drawing shows buildings and ships. The bottom right corner has the photographers mark. The back of the photograph has a handwritten inscription that identifies the venue as the Folies Bergère.

Topic

Actors

Dance

Entertainers

Jazz (Music)

Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and National Portrait Gallery, Gift from Jean-Claude Baker

Object number

2016.135.2

Restrictions & Rights

Public domain

Created by

Unidentified

Subject of

Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975

Warner Bros. Pictures, American, founded 1923

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W (Image): 13 7/16 × 10 9/16 in. (34.1 × 26.8 cm)

H x W (Sheet): 15 3/4 × 12 1/2 in. (40 × 31.8 cm)

Type

posters

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse, C 050

Place depicted

Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1951

Description

Poster of Josephine Baker advertising her performance at the Strand Theater. The poster features an image of Baker dressed in a long dress with feathers coming off the proper left side. Additional feathers sit atop her head in a faned out structure. Text to the left of the poster reads: [The Toast of PAris... / Now the Rage of America! / in Person! / Josephine Baker / Plus on Screen... / Warner Bros. / "Storm Warning" / Now! N.Y. / Strand Theater]. The poster is mounted on white mat board. The back of the board has several inscriptiosn inlcuding numbers and a date.

Topic

Actors

Advertising

Dance

Entertainers

Jazz (Music)

Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Jean-Claude Baker

Object number

2016.135.6

Restrictions & Rights

Public domain

Written by

Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975

Received by

Wallace, Margaret Martin, American

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 10 1/2 x 8 1/8 in. (26.7 x 20.6 cm)

Type

letters (correspondence)

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Exhibition

Musical Crossroads

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Place made

Le Vésinet, Paris, Île-de-France, France, Europe

Date

November 1, 1938

Description

A signed, typed letter from Josephine Baker to her sister Margaret Martin Wallace ("Meg"). The letter is written in French and was accompanied by a typed translation of the text.

Topic

Actors

Entertainers

Families

United States--History--1933-1945

Credit Line

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

Object number

2010.36.14

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Published by

Salabert, Francis, French, 1884 - 1946

Written by

Koger, Géo, French, 1894 - 1975

Scotto, Vincent, French, 1874 - 1952

Created by

Varna, Henri, French, 1877 - 1969

Subject of

Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 10 3/4 x 7 in. (27.3 x 17.8 cm)

Type

portraits

sheet music

Classification

Documents and Published Materials-Sheet music

Exhibition

Musical Crossroads

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Place depicted

Paris, Île-de-France, France, Europe

Date

1930

Description

A piece of sheet music for the song "J'ai Deux Amours," performed by Josephine Baker. A cartoon print of Baker appears on the cover. She wears a peacock tail that a spotted cat plays with.

Topic

Actors

Entertainers

Jazz (Music)

Credit Line

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

Object number

2010.36.13.5

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Published by

Salabert, Francis, French, 1884 - 1946

Composed by

Lelievre, Léo, French, 1872 - 1956

Written by

Varna, Henri, French, 1877 - 1969

Illustrated by

Gaudin, Louis, French, 1882 - 1936

Subject of

Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975

Alex, Joe, Martiniquan

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W (Image): 10 11/16 × 6 3/4 in. (27.1 × 17.1 cm)

H x W (Sheet): 16 1/2 × 12 1/2 in. (41.9 × 31.8 cm)

Type

sheet music

Classification

Documents and Published Materials

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Place depicted

Paris, Île-de-France, France, Europe

Brussels, Belgium, Europe

Date

1930

Description

A song sheet titled, "Voulez-vous de la Canne à Sucre?" performed by Josephine Baker and Joe Alex. The song sheet is framed in a silver frame with white matting. The sheet features and illustration of Josephing Baker in costume. She is depicted with her body towards the left of the frame and her head facing the right looking down at a cheetah perched on its hind legs behind her. The artist's mark [Zig / 30] is next to the cheetah's back. French text throughout the sheet reads: [MM. Dufrenne et Varna présentent “Paris Qui Remue” / Revue de MM. H. Varna, L. Lelièvre et Earl Leslie au Casino De Paris / Voulez -Vous de la Canne à Sucre? / (En voulez-vous de la canne !!!) / Fox One Step / chante par / Joséphine Baker et Joe Alex / Por Piano et Chat / 6 fr. / Parole de Léo Lelièvre et Henri Varna / Musique de Paddy / Éditions Francis Salabert / Vente en Gros : / 22, Rue Chauchat, 22 –Paris – 9e / 14, Rue de Loxum Bruxelles]. The back of the frame has an alphanumeric inscription.

Topic

Actors

Dance

Entertainers

Jazz (Music)

Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and National Portrait Gallery, Gift from Jean-Claude Baker

Object number

2016.135.8

Restrictions & Rights

Public domain

Created by

Gunn, Louise Alexander, American

Subject of

Gunn, Bill, American, 1934 - 1989

Leon Sullivan, American, 1922 - 2001

Lincoln University, American, founded 1866

Waters, Ethel, American, 1896 - 1977

Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975

Waymon, Sam, American, born 1944

Medium

newsprint , ink on photographic paper , cardboard , metal and synthetic fiber

Dimensions

11 x 9 1/2 x 1 1/4 in. (27.9 x 24.1 x 3.2 cm)

Type

scrapbooks

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Place made

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date

1950s - 1970s

Description

Cloth bound purple and green floral print spiral bound scrapbook containing black-and-white and color photographs along with newspaper clippings and other ephemera dating from the late 1950s to the late 1970s documenting the life of Louise Jackson Gunn in the Philadelphia area. Louise Gunn was an actress, beauty queen, and community activist. The contents of the scrapbook include newspaper clippings and photographs related to Gunn's church groups and activities, including the Zion Drama Workshop; her friendships with other women in the community and from her vaudeville past; and her travels to the Bahamas and Paris, France.

A large portion of the scrapbook is devoted to Gunn’s community work, including scholarship fundraising for Lincoln University, adult education programs, and volunteering at Philadelphia General Hospital. Gunn also documents work with Rev. Leon H. Sullivan and the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), including efforts to provide school children with free breakfast and to fight housing discrimination.

There are several clippings, photographs, and programs related to her son, the actor and playwright Bill Gunn, including a performance with Ethel Waters and collaborations with musician Sam Waymon. There are also clippings related to performances by Alberta Hunter and Josephine Baker.

Topic

Activism

Actors

Blues (Music)

Civil rights

Communities

Education

Entertainers

Families

Film

Health

Housing

Jazz (Music)

Motherhood

Musicians

Religious groups

Social life and customs

Social reform

Theatre

Travel

Vaudeville

Credit Line

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

Object number

2012.46.65.1

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Created by

Wood, Pauline Thompson, American, born 1901

Subject of

Holman, Michael, American, born 1955

Holman, Linda, American, born 1953

Holman, Alice, American, 1927 - 2009

Wood, Pauline Thompson, American, born 1901

Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975

Owned by

Holman, Michael, American, born 1955

Medium

8mm Film (a): acetate film;

Film Reel (b): plastic;

Film Container (c): plastic

Dimensions

Duration: 27 Minutes

Length (Film): 369 Feet

Type

home movies

Collection title

Michael Holman Family Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Film and Video

Place depicted

Madrid, Spain, Europe

Paris, Île-de-France, France, Europe

Rome, Italy, Europe

Pompeii, Napoli, Italy, Europe

Costiera Amalfitana, Salerno, Italy, Europe

Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Tanger, Tanger-Tetouan, Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Date

ca. 1953

Caption

This film is from a collection of home movies filmed by the family of Michael Holman, an important figure in the history of hip hop. The collection predominately contains family vacation footage shot when Holman's father, Lt. Thomas Holman, was stationed in Europe with the US Army. Most of the footage was captured by Holman's grandmother, Pauline Thompson Wood. In addition to the European vacation films, the footage shot by Pauline Wood documents her involvement with the Baha'i Faith and includes footage of Baha'i events and pilgrimages to holy sites in Israel and Palestine. There is also footage of the family at home in San Francisco and other sites in California.

Description

This film is from a collection of home movies filmed by the family of Michael Holman, an important figure in the history of hip hop.

Consists of: 8mm Film (a), Original Film Reel (b), and Original Film Container (c).

2016.31.3.27.1a: 8mm film. The film begins with shots of street life taken on a corner near the Callo metro station in Madrid, Spain. A small group of soldiers can be seen marching through the area. Next, two panning shots from a high vantage point depict the rolling hills of an unidentified rural area. These are followed by a shot of a balcony filled with potted flowers. A long series of shots capture a Holy Week parade through a small town. The parade features many members of Catholic brotherhoods dressed in traditional capirotes. There are also numerous religious floats carried through the streets on people's shoulders, a military marching band, and crowd members waving to the camera. Several high level dignitaries also march along the parade route. The film then cuts to the young Holman children playing on a quiet street and posing for the camera in Chateauroux, France. Linda Holman wears a white dress with white knee-high socks, and a white cap. Michael Holman wears a white shirt with navy overall-shorts. Alice Holman stands behind them wearing a white top and green skirt.The next sequence begins with close-up shots of people in a crowd. The camera cuts to a wider shot of a car parked on the street surrounded by the crowd. Josephine Baker emerges from a building, waves to the crowd. The camera cuts to a close-up shot of the car's license plate before Baker enters the car. There is then a series of shots of Linda Holman wearing a grey jacket and white cap, holding hands with Pauline Thompson Wood, who is wearing a fur shawl over a grey dress and posing for the camera. This is followed by a series of shots of a group of people standing together in a yard and smiling for the camera. Linda Holman appears in the front row wearing a white dress with a bow in her hair. Next, there is a long series of shots depicting street life in Paris, France. Many of the shots capture images of market areas with vendors and street performers. There is a succession of quick shots of a home and people at a large mansion before the films cuts to a series of shots depicting the Holman family interacting with friends and neighbors on a quiet street. Michael Homan wears a blue snow suit with a red scarf and white hat. Linda Holman wears a grey jacket with white knee socks and a black bonnet. Alice Holman wears a bright pink sweater with a black skirt. A further sequence of shots depicting Parisian street life follows. The next sequence depicts life in an unidentified quiet town in a warm climate. There are shots of various buildings, people walking down narrow streets, and people going about their business. Pauline Thompson Wood wears a red sweater and a dark shirt while walking on the beach to go speak to fishermen in boats. Many of the visible signs have Italian and Spanish homonyms. The subsequent series of shots depict tourist sites and street life in Rome, Italy and an unidentified beach location. This is followed by footage of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, as well as the Amalfi Coast. The next sequence features street life and tourist sites in and around Lisbon, Portugal. The penultimate series of shots most likely depict Tangier, Morocco. The final shots of the film capture Linda Holman wearing a grey jacket and white bonnet, playing near an unidentified river and mugging for the camera.

2016.31.3.27.1b: Original film reel. Gray plastic with a brief content note.

2016.31.3.27.1c: Original film container. Blue plastic with brief content notes.

Topic

Actors

Families

Film

Marching bands (Music)

Military

Religion

Travel

Credit Line

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

Object number

2016.31.3.27.1abc

Restrictions & Rights

© Michael Holman

Created by

Ballis, George, American, 1925 - 2010

Subject of

Baker, Ella Josephine, American, 1903 - 1986

Schwerner, Michael, American, 1939 - 1964

Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, American, founded 1964

Medium

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

Dimensions

H x W (Image): 6 11/16 x 9 11/16 in. (17 x 24.6 cm)

H x W (Sheet): 8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm)

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

Type

gelatin silver prints

portraits

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Place depicted

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America

Date

1964

Description

A black-and-white photograph of Ella Baker speaking into a microphone and gesturing with her left hand. In the background there is a large portrait of Michael ‘Mickey’ Schwerner.

Topic

Civil rights

Oratory

Photography

Politics (Practical)

United States--History--1961-1969

Credit Line

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

Object number

2012.107.2

Restrictions & Rights

© 1976 George Ballis ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Permission required for use.