On View
Musical Crossroads Gallery
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
Manufactured by
Sol Frank Uniforms, Inc., American, founded 1951
Subject of
Florida A&M University, American, founded 1887
Worn by
Brown, Ernest, American, born 1959
Owned by
Foster, William Patrick, American, 1919 - 2010
Date
1970-1979
Medium
polyester, plastic and metal
Dimensions
L x W: 33 1/2 × 18 in. (85.1 × 45.7 cm)
Chest: 18 in. (45.7 cm)
L x W (Sleeve): 25 1/2 × 8 1/4 in. (64.8 × 21 cm)
Description
A Florida A&M University Marching Band jacket by SOL FRANK Uniforms, Inc. The green, orange, and off-white jacket, its colors representative of Florida’s agricultural industry, is constructed of one hundred percent wool, and features several University themed embellishments. The neck collar, supported internally by hard plastic, is primarily dyed green wool with an orange and off-white strip of cord running along its edge. At the front of the chest, starting from the top of the neck, orange fabric edged in thick green thread, and sewn diagonally, features the University white, green, orange, and black tribal patterned rattlesnake mascot. Large white patches with green embroidery that read FLORIDA / A&M are adhered to both outer shoulders. The buttons for the green, orange, and off-white shoulder straps are missing. Three embroidered patches of the rattlesnake line the orange area of the chest on both sides, and there is one rattlesnake patch on the wrist of the proper left arm. A black stitched outline of the mascot patch is present on the proper right wrist, where the patch is missing. The torso sides and outer arms of are green, the lower torso is off-white.
The upper back of the jacket features a very large embroidered mascot patch, set against an orange wool fabric background that extends down each arm and over the rectangular area of the entire backside, to the hem. Green fabric takes up the abdominal sides of the jacket. Ivory color looped embroidery in fleur-de-lis shapes are sewn to the lower back, one on each side of the dividing seam that runs the entire length of the jacket. The fleur-de-lis rest at the top points of green filled obelisk outlines.
The interior of the jacket is lined in a black synthetic material which shows extensive wear. An off-white fabric sewn-in tag at the bottom of the neck reads: [225 / Sol Frank / UNIFORMS, INC]. A second, large, off-white fabric sewn-in tag – located on the proper right breast – with red embroidered script reads: [SOL FRANK Uniforms Inc / SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS / AMERICA’S FINEST BAND UNIFORMS]. A third tag below the second, indicates the jacket’s owner and care instructions. A red dry cleaners tag [6063] is safety pinned to the proper right lower interior
Place made
Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
jackets
uniforms
Topic
Clothing and dress
Education
HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
Marching bands (Music)
Music
Musicians
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Anthony Foster in memory of William P. Foster
Object number
2019.94.5.2
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5cc975bef-678d-4328-b062-9c0995360692

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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