- Created by
- National Council of Negro Women, founded 1935
- Subject of
- Bethune, Mary McLeod, American, 1875 - 1955
- Date
- early 1960s
- Medium
- paint on metal and tin and tin alloy
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 4 9/16 × 3 3/8 × 1 9/16 in. (11.6 × 8.5 × 4 cm)
- Description
- A brown-and-white square donation tin created by the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) for the Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial Fund. The metal box features graphics including a portrait of Mary McLeod Bethune, a quote from Bethune, and a thank you note from the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW). At the top of the tin is an opening for inserting coins; at the bottom of the tin is a folding door and key lock.
- On one face is a small square portrait of Mary McLeod Bethune captured wearing a pearl-like choker and dark top. Brown and white words above and below the image read: [MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE / Memorial Fund / “Let her works praise her.” / NATIONAL COUNCIL / OF NEGRO WOMEN, INC. / 1318 VERMONT AVENUE, N.W. / WASHINGTON 5 D. C.]. The reverse side of the box features an off-white background and keyhole. A brown-and-white pictorial emblem for the NCNW is painted in the middle and features banners around a group of diverse women which say “WOMEN UNITED” and “FAITH * LEADERSHIP * CULTURE”. The number “901” is marked below the emblem, above brown words that read: [NATIONAL COUNCIL / OF NEGRO WOMEN, INC. / 1318 VERMONT AVE, N.W. / WASHINGTON 5, D. C.].
- On one of the brown sides of the tin, in white paint, is written: [YOUR CONTRIBUTION, GIVEN IN LOVE, WHETHER IN / JOY OR SORROW, IN PROSPERITY OR SACRIFICE, IN / MEMORY OR IN HONOR, IN DEVOTION OR IN TRIBUTE, / LINKS YOU IN SPIRIT AND IN DEED WITH MARY McLEOD / BETHUNE WHOSE LIFE WAS DEDICATED THAT MANKIND / EVERYWHERE MIGHT LIVE IN PEACE AND FREEDOM].
- On the opposite brown side of the tin, in white, is written: [HERE THEN, IS MY LEGACY … / I LEAVE YOU LOVE – I LEAVE YOU HOPE – I LEAVE YOU THE CHALLENGE / OF DEVELOPING CONFIDENCE IN ONE ANOTER – I LEAVE YOU A THIRST / FOR EDUCATION – I LEAVE YOU A RESPECT FOR THE USE OF POWER / I LEAVE YOU FAITH – I LEAVE YOU RACIAL DIGNITY – I LEAVE YOU / A DESIRE TO LIVE HARMONIOUSLY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEN – I LEAVE / YOU, FINALLLY, A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. / MARY McLEOD BETHUNE].
- Place made
- District of Columbia, Washington, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Memorabilia and Ephemera
- Movement
- Women's Club Movement
- Type
- tins
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2022.21.22
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown – Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.