Manufactured by
Gotham
Distributed by
Knickerbocker Rug Cleaners, American, founded 1892
Owned by
Sinclair, Clayton, American
Sinclair, Hazel, American
Subject of
Rock Rest Tourist Home, American, 1948 - 1976
Date
1946-1952
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product) and metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 2 1/16 × 1 5/16 × 1/16 in. (5.2 × 3.4 × 0.2 cm)
Description
A packet of nine Gotham needles found in drawer C of the Singer cabinet table from the Rock Rest Tourist Home. The packet is primarily constructed from black folded paper with labels adhered to the front and back of the folded packet. The label on the front has a white background. At the center is a black-and-white illustration of a woman wearing a crown with an attached veil inside a hatched, oval shaped frame. Surrounding the illustrated portrait is a larger, red frame with light blue fill and accented with illustrations of red, six petal flowers and leaves. A white banner above the portrait has centered black text that reads [GOTHAM]. A red banner that overlays the bottom of the portrait has black outlined white text that reads [SILVEREY’D]. Printed in white, inside a black oval frame near the bottom is the needle gauge, [3/9]. Black text printed above and below the gauge reads [SHARPS] and [MADE IN / OCCUPIED JAPAN]. The off-white label adhered to the back of the packet features red printed text that reads [KNICKERBOCKER / RUG CLEANERS / 2110 MARYLAND AVE. / BELMONT 3300]. The front of the packet lifts to uncover an interior paper pocket with nine silver tone sewing needles of various sizes inserted into the paper holder inside the pocket. The interior pocket has top and bottom flaps for easy removal of the needles.
Place collected
Kittery, York County, Maine, United States, North and Central America
Place purchased
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Place made
Japan, Asia
Collection title
The Rock Rest Tourist Home Collection
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Type
needles
Topic
Black Enterprise
Business
Recreation
Segregation
Travel
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Inc.
Object number
2011.12.18.2.5.1
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ab3fae22-83a6-409c-bedf-c9b66fbe8e6f

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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