- Manufactured by
- Converse, American, founded 1908
- Worn by
- Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994
- Subject of
- Taylor, Chuck, American, 1901 - 1969
- Date
- late 20th century
- Medium
- canvas and rubber with cotton (textile) and metal
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (A2015.273.1.18a): 6 1/8 × 4 1/8 × 11 7/8 in. (15.5 × 10.4 × 30.2 cm)
- H x W x D (A2015.273.1.18b): 6 1/8 × 4 1/8 × 11 7/8 in. (15.5 × 10.4 × 30.2 cm)
- Description
- A pair of size 8.5 “Chuck Taylor All Star” Converse sneakers worn by Cab Calloway. The exterior upper shoes are primarily constructed from black, cotton canvas and white rubber. The toe boxes are rounded. The shoes are double stitched with white thread around the outline of the lace guards and ankle collars. The center lines of the heels are reinforced with an additional strip of black canvas. The lace guards feature matching metal eyelets that are strung with flat, white, string laces. Stitched to the proper right side of the left shoe, and the proper left side of the right shoe, are white circular labels with a large, blue, five-pointed star at the center. Blue text printed above and below the star read [CONVERSE] at the top, and [ALL STAR] at the bottom. Printed in white text across the center of the star is cursive text that reads [Chuck Taylor]. The heels are constructed from white rubber. Adhered to the back of each heel is a rubber label with a blue rectangular field at the center surrounded by alternating white and blue bands of varying thicknesses. At the center of the blue field is a five-pointed star with white text that reads [ALL / STAR]. White text in the top left corner and the bottom right corner read [CONVERSE]] and [Chuck / Taylor], respectively. There are two smaller five-pointed stars in the bottom left and top right corners of the label and below the bottom right star is additional small white text that reads [MADE IN U.S.A.]. The shoes’ soles are brown rubber with a diamond pattern tread. On the soles, molded into the arch, is text that reads [Converse / ALL STAR / 8 1/2] with a five pointed star below the word [Converse]. The throat is solid black and the insoles are white with black text that reads [CUSHION / HEEL] and CONVERSE / COMFORT ARCH] at the heel and arch respectively. The shoes are lined with white canvas.
- Place made
- Asia
- Collection title
- The Cabell “Cab” Calloway III Collection
- Classification
- Clothing - Fashion and Historical
- Type
- sneakers
- Topic
- Band (Music)
- Basketball
- Clothing and dress
- Composers (Musicians)
- Conductors (Musicians)
- Dance
- Jazz (Music)
- Singers (Musicians)
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cabella Calloway Langsam
- Object number
- A2015.273.1.18ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- © Nike
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




