- Manufactured by
- Unidentified
- Owned by
- Wallace, Herman, American, 1941 - 2013
- Subject of
- Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, American, founded 1835
- Date
- after 1972
- Medium
- plastic, metal, ink on paper, and hair
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 3 1/4 × 1 5/8 in. (8.2 × 4.1 cm)
- Caption
- Herman Wallace (1941-2013) spent 42 years in solitary confinement in Louisiana state prisons, first at the correctional facility known as Angola and later at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center. Wallace, along with fellow Angola inmates Albert Woodfox and Robert King, became the longest prisoners held in solitary confinement. Members of the Angola Chapter of the Black Panther Party (BPP), the men long insisted that they were framed and wrongfully convicted in retaliation for their support of the BPP and advocation for reform within Angola. Known as the "Angola Three," these men never gave up their fight against injustice, and became a rallying cry for prison cruelty and the need for reform.
- Wallace died October 4, 2013, three days after his conviction was finally overturned and he was released from prison. Among his final words were "I’m free, I’m free."
- This collection of personal belongings from Wallace’s 42 years of solitary confinement is a powerful testament to the human spirit as well as creativity and craft traditions. These objects demonstrate Wallace’s strength and resilience in maintaining his personal identity, social connections, and commitment to justice during his longtime isolation.
- Description
- A round, white plastic lotion tub repurposed to hold small personal items by Herman Wallace while incarcerated at Angola Prison. Inside the container are tiny objects wrapped in plastic, to include: a kite, handmade battery charger, electronic part, needle, matches, copper wire, melted paper clip, a photo, screws and springs, a ball of hair, and printed instructions of chemo dosages. The top is detachable by twist action. There are no markings or inscriptions on the container.
- Place used
- Angola, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- Herman Wallace Archival Collection
- Classification
- Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
- Accessories and Personal Effects
- Type
- containers
- make-dos
- Topic
- American South
- Health
- Men
- Prisons
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Maria Hinds
- Object number
- A2018.36.1.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




