- Manufactured by
- Unidentified
- Hickok Leather
- Worn by
- Corbitt, Ted, American, 1919 - 2007
- Date
- 1952
- Medium
- Jacket: wool, silk, plastic, and thread; Tie: silk and thread; Belt: leather, metal, ink, and thread
- Dimensions
- H x W (Blazer): 32 × 21 in. (81.3 × 53.3 cm)
- L x W (Tie- Length: Folded, Width: At it's widest point): 24 1/2 × 3 1/2 in. (62.2 × 8.9 cm)
- L x W (Tie- Length: Unfolded): 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm)
- L x W (Belt): 37 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (95.3 × 3.8 cm)
- Caption
- In the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Ted Corbitt became the first African American to compete in the Olympic marathon.
- Description
- .1) A navy blue single breasted men's blazer with notch lapels.
- The blazer has two patch pockets, one on either side near the hips. There is also a patch breast pocket on the proper left side. There is an embroidered patch on top of the pocket. It is in the shape of a shield with three points at the top. It has a gold border. The top section is blue with a white rectangle inside. Inside the white rectangle are the five (5) Olympic rings, interlocked in a horizontal line. They are blue, gold, black, green, and red. There is a gold horizontal line separating the top from the bottom section. In the bottom section there are thirteen vertical stripes, alternating red and white, with red stripes on the two outer edges. Under the shield there is a white arc shape with blue text that reads [HELSINKI 1952]. There are three plastic buttons going down the front. There is partial blue silk lining on the inside of the jacket and in the pockets. There is also a single slit at the bottom on the back of the jacket.
- .2) A blue silk necktie.
- It has gold thread text and images. There is a foot with a sandal and a wing on the ankle. It represents the foot of the Greek god Hermes. There is text underneath which reads [1952 / OLYMPICS]. There is a symmetrical vertical design underneath. The back is lined in white fabric.
- .3) A leather and metal belt.
- There is a raised black trim on the top and bottom. The buckle is a gold colored metal. It is scuffed and scratched. There is a raised image on the proper right side. It is in the shape of a shield with three points at the top. It has a gold border. The top section is blue with a white rectangle inside. Inside the white rectangle are the five (5) Olympic rings, interlocked in a horizontal line. They are blue, gold, black, green, and red. There is a gold horizontal line separating the top from the bottom section. In the bottom section there are thirteen vertical stripes, alternating red and white, with red stripes on the two outer edges. There is text engraved into the belt. Under the image it reads [HELSINKI 1952]. On the proper left side of the image it reads [UNITED / STATES / OLYMPIC / TEAM]. There is a scuffed metal circle in between the buckle and the first belt loop. There is another on the other side of the loop. The back of the belt is tan. it is cracked and wrinkled. There is text stamped on which reads [HICOCK Sculptered SADDLE / LEATHER] in different fonts and next to that it reads [4216 / 32].
- Classification
- Clothing - Sports Uniforms
- Type
- sports uniforms
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gary Corbitt in memory of Ted Corbitt
- Object number
- 2015.182.4.1-.3
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




