- Designed by
- Whistler, Vera, American
- Manufactured by
- Julius Lewis, American, founded 1900
- Owned by
- Barnett, Etta Moten, American, 1901 - 2004
- Date
- 1950-1980
- Medium
- cloth
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 5 7/8 × 7 1/2 × 7 1/2 in. (15 × 19 × 19 cm)
- Description
- This is a Vera Whistler gold and white fabric hat (.1) and hatbox (.2ab). The hat (.1) has a gold-colored crown. The gold fabric around the forehead is sewn in tight horizontal gathers. The rest of the crown material is smooth. A brim composed of white fabric flares out and up from the crown. It reaches a high peak in the front of the hat and gradually slopes down on both sides to meet at a lower point at the back of the hat. The interior is lined in dark red shiny fabric. There is a fabric tag sewn to the interior of the grosgrain sweatband. The tag is white with red text that reads “VERA WHISTLER / ORIGINALS.” There is a small white paper sales tag attached to the interior by a string. The hatbox (.2a) is an off-white-colored circular box with a gold cord to fasten down the lid threaded into the body of the box to create a second loop as a carrying handle. The lid (.2b) is plain off-white background with gold text in the center that reads “VERA / WHISTLER / ORIGINALS / JULIUS LEWIS.”
- Place purchased
- Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America
- Place used
- Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- Etta Moten Barnett Archive
- Classification
- Clothing - Fashion and Historical
- Topic
- Activism
- Actors
- Broadway Theatre
- Clothing and dress
- Fashion
- Millinery
- Singers (Musicians)
- Women
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- A2022.13.1.30.1-.2ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown – Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




