Manufactured by
Chicago Knitting Mills, American, founded 1968
Subject of
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, founded 1908
Owned by
Barnett, Etta Moten, American, 1901 - 2004
Date
1968-1984
Medium
wool (textile) with plastic
Dimensions
H x W: 25 3/8 × 17 1/8 in. (64.5 × 43.5 cm)
Description
This is an Alpha Kappa Alpha varsity cardigan belonging to Etta Moten Barnett. It is a pink wool vee-neck cardigan with bright green trim and brown plastic buttons. The green trim is at the neckline, along the front opening, the cuffs and in three bands around the upper arms. On each arm is an elbow patch in green with pink vertical letters that read “A / K /A.” The cardigan has two front pockets at waist level. There are no flaps on the openings and the pockets are lined in green. On the proper right front cardigan breast are the varsity letters “A /K / A” placed on the diagonal. The letters are pink with green trim. On the proper left front breast is a patch of a pink ivy leaf with the letters “A /K /A” in each point and a sorority symbol in the middle. The ivy leaf is outlined in green and has white polka dots around the edge. Below the ivy leaf patch is a patch of a twinning vine of ivy in green. On the back of the cardigan are green letters applied as a large patch. The letters read “ALPHA / KAPPA / ALPHA / SORORITY INC.” Sewn on the inside of the neckline is a cloth tag with brown text that reads “100% Pure Wool -Dry Clean Only / CHICAGO / KNITTING MILLS / 4440 W. DIVERSEY – CHICAGO, ILL. / NAME_____.”
Place made
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Etta Moten Barnett Archive
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
sweaters
Topic
Activism
Actors
Broadway Theatre
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Singers (Musicians)
Sororities
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
A2022.13.1.26
Restrictions & Rights
© Alpha Kappa Alpha
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5d4699a0c-6c4c-487f-8716-f4080e4bb839

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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