- On View
- Segregation Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Created by
- Unidentified
- Date
- 20th century
- Medium
- wood , paint and fiber
- Dimensions
- 8 1/4 x 7 1/4 x 4 1/16 in. (21 x 18.4 x 10.3 cm)
- Description
- A wooden donation box (2007.7.225a) and lid (2007.7.225b), painted black. Off-white painted lettering on the front reads [ALABAMA / COON FUND] on the front of the box. The o's in "Coon" are used as eyes in a smiley face, with an exaggerated mouth drawn underneath. Engraved lettering on the back and left sides of the box read [LONSDALE / 6 1/2" x 44]. The lid features a carved figurine of a ‘coon” with its proper right hand outstretched stands on top of the box. He is wearing only painted-on brown shorts. His facial features are carved and black fibers have been adhered to his head as hair. The off-white pointed text in front of the figurine reads [DONATION!]. Under the writing is a long, thin rectangular coin slot.
- 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.
- Collection title
- Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
- Classification
- Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
- Racist and Stereotypical Objects
- Type
- banks (containers)
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
- Object number
- 2007.7.225ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.