Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
General Powell, Colin L., American, 1937 - 2021
President Bush, George H. W., American, born 1924
Bush, Barbara, American, 1925 - 2018
Owned by
General Powell, Colin L., American, 1937 - 2021
Date
ca. 1989-1993
Medium
(a) ink on photographic paper
(b) wood , glass and cardboard
Dimensions
H x W (image): 7 1/2 × 9 7/16 in. (19 × 24 cm)
H x W x D (frame): 15 3/4 × 16 1/2 × 1 in. (40 × 41.9 × 2.5 cm)
Caption
This photograph was inscribed by President George H. W. Bush on the occasion of General Powell's appointment to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell was appointed by President Bush and was the first African American to hold this position. He continued serving under President Clinton before retiring from the Army in 1993. This photograph hung in the receiving room of the Powell family's residence in McLean, Virginia.
Description
A framed photograph of General Colin L. Powell at the ceremony for his swearing in as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with President George H.W. Bush, and Barbara Bush. Powell is pictured at right, dressed in a Service Uniform outfitted with his earned insignia. He holds a microphone in his proper right hand and stands facing a soldier (left) holding a very large object for view. President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush (center) stand close together observing the activities. The floor of the event space is a bright medium blue and well lit from the photographer’s vantage point. In the dark background and on the edges of the camera’s frame, are innumerable military personnel, five of which, flanking the President, Mrs. Bush, and General Powell, carry service branch standards and campaign streamers. In the upper left corner of the photograph is an inscription in white ink that reads: [To Colin – This was the / nicest thing in my whole / Presidency. Bar and I will never / forget. Thanks my noble friend. / George Bush]. The photograph (a) is set behind a dark grey square window mat designed with a gold double border and housed inside of a medium brown, deep set, wooden frame (b).
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
frames (furnishings)
photographs
Topic
Men
Military
Photography
U.S. History, 1969-2001
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
Object number
A2022.101.1.8ab
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e79f0eb0-b516-4e12-9e64-2fbcf0d5f53c

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

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