Manufactured by
Palm Beach, American, founded 1922
Worn by
Smith, Tommie, American, born 1944
Date
1968
Medium
unidentified fiber with polyester, felt, plastic , metal, and thread
Dimensions
H x W (.1 Jacket): 33 1/4 × 19 in. (84.5 × 48.3 cm)
H x W (.2 Pants (folded)): 46 × 14 in. (116.8 × 35.6 cm)
H x W (.2 Pants (open)): 46 × 16 1/4 in. (116.8 × 41.3 cm)
Description
Jacket and pants from the 1968 Olympics Opening Ceremony.
.1 A red suit jacket with notched lapels. There are two button holes on the front on the proper left side. There are two buttons to the proper left of the button holes. There is are two buttons on each of the sleeves and two pockets with flaps, one on either side of the jacket near the waist.
There is a navy felt patch on the proper left side below the breast pocket. It has designs in several different color threads. On the outer edges of the patch there are two gold olive branches, one on either side. In between the branches, at the bottom of the patch, it reads [U.S.A.]. In the center of the patch there is a shield trimmed in gold thread. The top of the shield is blue and has a white shape inside. Inside the white shape are the five (5) interlocking Olympic rings in blue, gold, black, green, and red. The bottom half of the shield has seven (red) red and six (6) white alternating vertical lines, trimmed in gold. Coming out of the top of the shield are two (2) flag poles, one crossed over the other. The American flag is on the proper right side and is backwards. The Mexican flag is on the proper left side and is facing the proper direction.
The inside of the jacket is lined in red shiny polyester. There is a black manufacturer's label sewn into the proper left side where the pocket it. It reads [TAILORED BY / Palm Beach (R)] in yellow. There is a slit on either side of the jacket at the bottom. There are some loose threads on the inside of the jacket.
.2 A pair of white pants with black vertical pinstripes. The stripes along the waistband are horizontal. There is a metal fastener in the front of the pants along with a button and button hole and a white plastic zipper. There are several belt loops along the waistband. There is a pocket without a flap on either side of the pants. There are some loose threads and runs in the fabric as well as some spots and stains. There is a white tag inside the waistbands of the pants.
Place used
Mexico City, Mexico, Latin America, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing - Sports Uniforms
Type
jackets
pants
Topic
Activism
Athletes
Black power
Civil rights
Clothing and dress
Olympics
Sports
Track and field
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Tommie and Delois Smith
Object number
2016.110.1.1-.2
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd53a95b4ac-f306-499c-b7ba-6cf297af7855

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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