On View
Military History Gallery
Exhibition
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
Manufactured by
Weintraub Brothers Company, Inc., founded 1917
Worn by
Admiral Howard, Michelle Janine, American, born 1960
Subject of
United States Navy, American, founded 1775
Date
1999
Medium
synthetic fiber with metal and plastic fasteners
Dimensions
H x W x D (on form): 26 1/2 × 22 × 12 1/2 in. (67.3 × 55.9 × 31.8 cm)
Caption
A 1982 Naval Academy graduate, Michelle Howard commanded Task Force 151 in 2009, which freed Captain Richard Phillips and other hostages from the Maersk Alabama. In 2014, she became the first female four-star admiral in the Navy, as well as the highest-ranking Black woman in the military, and was appointed vice chief of naval operations.
Description
A US Navy women's dress uniform jacket worn by Admiral Michelle Howard as commander. The single-breasted jacket is made from black twill fabric and has a short slightly flared skirt with a straight cut hemline. It has a rounded collar with a notched lapel. The jacket closes at the center front with four (4) large gold-colored metal buttons with a raised design of an eagle holding an anchor surrounded by thirteen (13) stars. One (1) decorative pocket flap without a corresponding pocket is sewn to each front side breast. At the cuffs of the straight cut full-length sleeves are three (3) bands of gold tape beneath a black patch featuring one (1) five-pointed star embroidered in gold thread, denoting the rank of commander. The jacket is fully lined with black synthetic satin. There are four (4) black plastic buttons sewn along the interior proper left front side that correspond to the exterior gold button closure. At the proper left interior waist is a black zipper that is open to the exterior of the garment. A manufacturer's label is sewn at the interior proper right waist with text reading "PATRIOT / STYLED BY / Weintraub Bros. Co. / DRY CLEAN ONLY". A size "REG. / 12" tag is sewn at the interior center back neck. An additional tag at the center back neck also functions as a hanger loop, and reads "MADE IN U.S.A. BY / American Craftsmen / DRY CLEAN ONLY".
Classification
Clothing - Military Uniforms
Type
mess jackets
dress uniforms
Topic
Clothing and dress
Military
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Admiral Michelle J. Howard, U.S. Navy
Object number
2014.146.1.2
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd56002480b-1efb-4d13-a642-a5bb90c35040

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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