On View
Segregation Gallery
Exhibition
Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
Issued by
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Used by
Beasley, Louis J., American, 1907 - 2001
Date
1939-1944
Medium
metal, velour, plastic, wood and cord
Dimensions
H x W x D: 15 1/2 × 18 × 7 in. (39.4 × 45.7 × 17.8 cm)
Description
A case (a) with removable joint (b) used to store the Chaplain's Kit used by Army Chaplain Louis J. Beasley. The case is made from black metal, with a black plastic handle and two (2) black metal clasps on the front, and is rectangular in shape. The case lid is attached to the base with hinges along the back edge. The interior of the case has two levels. The top level is a formed sheet of metal, the same material as the exterior of the case, that unfolds to serve as an altar. The altarpiece is affixed to the interior of the case by a hinge along its back edge, and cannot be removed. The altarpiece has two additional (2) retractable flaps, one hinged onto the left side and the other hinged onto the right side, which fold down to extend the altarpiece. Both the left side and the right side have a triangular piece of metal hinged to the underside, which supports each side once they are folded down. There is a cloth strap affixed to the interior of the lid that snaps to the underside of the altarpiece platform, to hold the altarpiece up when accessing the level below. Below the metal altarpiece, the bottom level is segmented into three (3) rows with compartments to hold objects to be used when performing Christan services. The rows on the left and the right are lined with blue velour fabric, and have specific divots and indentations to indicate which specific item should be stored in which place. The central row is unlined, and is not subdivided. On the outside of the case, just below the handle, painted in yellow, is [U.S.].
Place made
United States, North and Central America
Classification
Sacred and Ceremonial Objects
Type
communion sets
Topic
Catholicism
Men
Military
Religion
Segregation
Worship services
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Louis J. Beasley Family
Object number
2013.205.1.1ab
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5870a2261-51f7-41c2-af9f-95673b2fe63c

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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