Manufactured by
Unidentified
Worn by
General Powell, Colin L., American, 1937 - 2021
Subject of
United States Armed Forces, American, founded 1775
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Owned by
General Powell, Colin L., American, 1937 - 2021
Date
ca. 1989-1993
Medium
polyester with satin
Dimensions
Inseam: 31 in. (78.7 cm)
Waist: 15 3/16 in. (38.5 cm)
L x W: 44 1/8 × 15 3/16 in. (112 × 38.5 cm)
Caption
Colin Luther Powell was born in Harlem, New York, on April 5, 1937. He graduated from Community College of New York in 1958 and earned his commission through the ROTC as a second lieutenant in the Regular Army. After a distinguished and highly decorated military career, Powell was promoted to four-star general in 1989. That same year he became the first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), serving under President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. General Powell retired from the Army in 1993 after 35 years of service. In 2001 he became the first African American Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush before resigning in 2004. General Powell died on October 18, 2021, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. After a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral in D.C., General Powell was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Description
A pair of US Army green Service Uniform pants worn by General Colin L. Powell. These pants are made from a dark olive-green polyester fabric and have straight cut legs that are pressed with a crease down the center front and back. The pants close at the center front waist with a brass zipper, one (1) metal flat hook-and-eye, and one (1) round green plastic button through a self-fabric tab. There are seven (7) self-fabric belt loops around the waistband. The pants have two (2) inset pockets, one at each front waist side seam. Two (2) stripes of black woven tape are sewn down the outer side of each leg. There are two (2) welted pockets, one on each back leg below the waist. The proper left back pocket has a self-fabric loop above it that fastens around one (1) round green plastic button. The pants are lined throughout the top seat in a green satin material, with the lining bisected by a white woven tape with yellow stitch lines at the bottom of the yoke.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing - Military Uniforms
Type
trousers
military uniforms
Topic
Clothing and dress
Government
Local and regional
Military
Politics
U.S. History, 1969-2001
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
Object number
A2022.101.1.37.2
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5648bbfb0-993d-4977-bec5-58f5de891381

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

Share this page