- 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 × 5/16 in. (5.2 × 3.3 × 0.8 cm)
- Description
- A packet of ten 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 label is faded and browned. The front of the packet lifts to uncover an interior paper pocket with ten 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 made
- Japan, Asia
- Place purchased
- Baltimore, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
- 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
- 2011.12.18.2.5.2
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown – Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




