On View
Sports Gallery
Exhibition
Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
Manufactured by
Wilson Sporting Goods Co., American, founded 1914
Worn by
Smith, Tommie, American, born 1944
Date
1968
Medium
synthetic fiber
Dimensions
H x W x D (On form): 31 1/2 × 13 1/2 × 10 in. (80 × 34.3 × 25.4 cm)
Description
This navy blue singlet was worn by Tommie Smith while competing in events representing Team USA at the 1968 Olympic Games. The sleeveless scoop neck jersey is made from navy blue synthetic fiber. Red fabric letters outlined in white fabric reading "U S A" are embroidered to the jersey across the chest. Beneath the letters is a large rectangular white fabric label with black printed text reading "307 / JUEGOS DE LA XIX OLIMPIADA MEXICO 68". A label of similar size with the same text is sewn across the back of the jersey below the shoulder blades. A manufacturer's label For Wilson is sewn to the exterior proper left side just above the hem that also contains care and size information. The inside of the jersey is not lined. A band of cream cotton fabric is sewn to the interior back across the shoulders.
Place used
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico, Latin America, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing-Historical
Type
shirts
sports uniforms
Topic
Activism
Black power
Civil rights
Clothing and dress
Men
Olympics
Sports
Track and field
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.231.1.1
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5358b61a7-384f-443f-8827-08a5844c7829

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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