Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
Hawkins, Bill, American, 1909 - 1975
Unidentified Man or Men
Unidentified Woman or Women
Unidentified Child or Children
WHK, American, founded 1922
Date
1949-1958
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (Sheet): 8 3/16 × 10 in. (20.8 × 25.4 cm)
Description
A black-and-white photograph of Disc Jockey Bill “Hawk” Hawkins with an unidentified man, performing for a crowd on a city sidewalk. Hawkins is depicted standing next to a white piano and matching piano bench embellished with light colored polka dots. Hawkins stands left of center, wearing a medium-toned suit, a white collared shirt, a patterned tie, and a straw Stetson hat with leaves and vines embellishing the crown. He is leaning forward, speaking into a microphone on a stand. He has his proper right arm around the shoulders of an unidentified man wearing a white suit, a white collared shirt, and a dark tie with a white vertical band. The man is smiling and looking towards a crowd of onlookers gathered on the right half on the photograph. In the background, on the left, is a door with the number [1942] painted in larger text on the glass. At the center is a metal framed building sign that reads [1940 / FIDELITY / [BUILDI[?]NG] next to a revolving door. The photograph has a white frame and a landscape orientation. There is a loss at the top right corner. The back of this photograph is white and plain.
Place captured
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Media Arts-Photography
Type
gelatin silver prints
portraits
Topic
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Music
Photography
Radio
Urban life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of W. Allen Taylor, son of "Walkin' Talkin' Bill Hawkins," The First Black Disc Jockey of Cleveland, Ohio
Object number
2018.91.2.22
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd526050b9a-476f-4a38-a46b-7d09be1296c6

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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