- Manufactured by
- J. Peterman Company, American, founded 1987
- Subject of
- Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994
- Date
- after 1998
- Medium
- pressure-sensitive tape on cardboard with metal and cord (fiber product)
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (Overall): 7 1/8 × 13 13/16 × 13 15/16 in. (18.1 × 35.1 × 35.4 cm)
- H x W x D (Box): 2 1/16 × 14 5/16 × 14 3/16 in. (5.2 × 36.4 × 36 cm)
- H x W x D (Lid): 7 1/16 × 14 3/16 × 14 3/16 in. (18 × 36 × 36 cm)
- Description
- A hat box owned by Cab Calloway's family. The hat box is constructed from brown cardboard. It has a round drum shape body (A2015.273.1.8.2a) and features a removable lid (A2015.273.1.8.2b). The box is decorated with clusters of white and black stamps and colorful adhesive labels on the top of the lid and on the sides of the box. The stamps include stylized images of people and reproductions of immigration stamps from places such as Heathrow airport, Osaka, Milan, Gatwick, and Taiwan from the 1950s and 1960s. Some of the stamps also feature reproductions of handwritten signatures. One white, circular stamp is a manufacturer stamp that reads [LEXINGTON / THE / PETERMAN/ CO. / KENTUCKY]. The lid also features five adhesive labels: two rectangular, two circular, and one octagonal in shape. One of the rectangular adhesive labels is orange and is a manufacturer’s label. It’s features white and black text at the center that reads [19 / The J. Peterman / COMPANY / 98] surrounded by a black line sunburst illustration. The white rectangular label features a black-and-white illustration of two Renaissance era men, one seated on the throne. Printed white text inside a red banner above reads [ORIGINAL]. The small red circular adhesive label has printed black text inside that reads [THE J. PETERMAN COMPANY / 10 / 1987]. The light blue, circular, adhesive label features a black illustration of a gun with white printed text above and below that reads [SHOPLIFTERS] and [BEWARE!]. The octagonal adhesive label is primarily black-and-white and features two, foliate patterns above and below red and black text that reads [The J. Peterman company] at the top and [No. 003124] below. At the center is a reproduction of J. Peterman’s autograph. There are three adhesive labels on the exterior of the box. One is a small, red, circular label that is identical to the red label on the lid. Another is a yellow, elongated, rectangular label with an illustration of a body of water with sail boats below red text that reads [No. 30756 imported by The J. Peterman Company USA]. The third label is light blue in color and is also an elongated rectangular shape. Black text printed at the center reads [TAKE ONE FOR YOURSELF (AND A CLOSE FRIEND).]. The top edge of the lid and the bottom edge of the box is reinforced with a light brown fabric tape. The box and lid are held together with adhesive and metal staples. Threaded through the left and right sides of the box is a light brown, carrying string. The interior is plain.
- Place made
- Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- The Cabell “Cab” Calloway III Collection
- Classification
- Accessories and Personal Effects
- Type
- hatboxes
- Topic
- Band (Music)
- 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
- A2015.273.1.8.2ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown – Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




