- Photograph by
- Joyce, James A., American
- Subject of
- Hawkins, Bill, American, 1909 - 1975
- Washington, Dinah, American, 1924 - 1963
- Unidentified Man or Men
- Unidentified Woman or Women
- Unidentified Child or Children
- Hawkins, Bill’ Record Studio, American
- Date
- ca. 1954
- Medium
- silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
- Dimensions
- H x W (Sheet): 5 1/16 × 7 in. (12.9 × 17.8 cm)
- Description
- A black-and-white photograph of Dinah Washington taken inside the Bill Hawkins recording studio. Washington is depicted left of center, seated behind a counter, surrounded by a large crowd of mostly teenagers reaching towards her. She is wearing a black, button down, short sleeve garment. Her eyes are closed and she is smiling at the crowd. She is holding up a record in a sleeve with her proper left hand. A boy standing next to her is grabbing the record from her hands. Behind Washington is a two-tone wall. A rectangular mirror is hanging behind her to her left, and above her head, are two signs posted on the wall. The first sign is white with black text that reads [Inquire Inside About / These FREE GIFTS / Donated By The ALDRICH HOWEY CO.] and a black sign with white text below that reads “Please Check! / Change & Records / NO / EXCHANGES]. In the background on the right, lining the wall, is a large, wooden cubby with cubby holes filled with records in tabbed sleeves. On top of the cubby is a pile of long-playing records in sleeves and a row of promotional photographs of performers leaning against the wall. The photograph has a white border and a landscape orientation. There are tape remnants in the top corners and bottom left corner. There is a surface loss in the bottom right corner. The back of the photo is white and plain with a black ink photographer’s stamp at the top center and an inscription. The black ink stamp reads [JAMES A. JOYCE / PHOTOGRAPHER / TY 1-0748 CLEVELAND, OHIO]. The black ink inscription is handwritten vertically in the bottom right corner and reads, [DINAH WASHINGTON[double underlined] / MID FIFTIES].
- Place captured
- Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
- Place printed
- Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Photographs and Still Images
- Type
- gelatin silver prints
- portraits
- Topic
- Instrumentalists (Musicians)
- Jazz (Music)
- Photography
- Radio
- Rhythm and blues (Music)
- Singers (Musicians)
- 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
- 2018.91.2.32
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown – Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




