Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
Markham, Dewey, American, 1904 - 1981
Date
1936
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (Image and sheet): 9 15/16 × 8 in. (25.3 × 20.3 cm)
Description
A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham depicted in blackface and shown in profile. Markham is wearing a boater hat, oxfords, and a dark suit with medium toned embellishments on the lapels, breast pocket, side pocket, wrists and pant seam. He has large, white painted lips. He is crouched over with his fists clenched and appears to be walking forward. He is posing in front of a wall, with a staircase visible in the left background. The front of the image has been marked in pencil with crop lines. There are several inscriptions in pencil on the back, including a paragraph about Markham on the bottom half that reads [The Personification of Trucking / -Cut- / Pigmeat Markham / Known the country over today / as the greatest living colored / Comedian. At present Pigmeat is / in his second successful / week in philadelphia where / this month he began what will / develop into 40 wk of truckin and / what have you.].
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.
Place captured
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
The Laura Cathrell Show-Down Magazine Collection
Classification
Media Arts-Photography
Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Type
gelatin silver prints
portraits
Topic
Actors
Blackface
Dance
Entertainers
Photography
Singers (Musicians)
Stereotypes
Theatre
Vaudeville
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2013.46.25.2
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5384b1394-00ad-4d3d-9bd4-0905f9abbd61

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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