Explore people and objects across Black history. Start anywhere, or follow the collection by date.
115,761 matching cards · 24 cards per page
1950s
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black velvet hat with ribbon and netting. The top of the crown is slightly indented and flat while the sides of the crown taper slightly outwards. The hat is constructed out of blocked buckram, on the exterior it is covered in black silk velvet. Black…
1950s-1960s
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black velvet hat with a wide brim and pink fabric flowers (a) and a matching hat pin (b). The hat has a short round crown and is made of black synthetic velvet. Plastic stems are wrapped around and sewn to the side of the crown. A pink flower and four…
1945-1965
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black velvet pillbox hat with a rhinestone bee pin. The hat (a) is made of black synthetic velvet, one circular panel is sewn to the top of the crown and another panel is used for the sides of the crown. A black synthetic cotton blended petersham ribbon…
1980s
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA pillbox hat (a) made from black velvet with hat pin (b). The hat is lined with a synthetic silk faille. The interior brim is lined with a rayon Petersham ribbon. At the proper right and proper left of the sweatband, elastic cords are looped through the…
ca. 1982
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black velvet quilted jacket with gold trim by Jay Smith. The jacket is composed of black velveteen fabric that has linear top stitching at regular intervals, creating a quilted effect. Two panels of fabric make up the front of the jacket and it features…
1939
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black full-length velvet skirt worn by Marian Anderson at her Lincoln Memorial Concert in 1939. The skirt is lined and has a high pile on the fabric. It flares out at the back forming a small train, and the back is fastened with a small black zipper. The…
1970s - 1980s
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black, high crown velvet top hat with a black veil, red lining, and a slightly upturned brim. The understructure of the hat is formed from buckram that has been blocked to shape and then covered with three panels of black velvet. Two panels of velvet,…
mid-20th century
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black velveteen cap with a low, flat crown and a short visor. The hat’s inner structure is likely made of buckram and covered in velveteen. The visor is made of a slightly stiffer inner structure (possibly plastic) with wired edges. The edges of the…
1960s
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black headband made from velveteen material. The interior structure of the headband is made from plastic boning that is covered in buckram. A black net veil is attached to the underside of the front of the headband. Two strands of white thread are…
1955 - 1965
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black velveteen pillbox hat with a bow. The base of the hat is made from two panels of black velveteen – one for the top and one for the sides, which is sewn to itself at the center back. There’s a layer of buckram just under the velveteen of the crown…
1960s
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black velveteen pillbox hat with net. The hat is made of black synthetic velveteen. Black synthetic satin is sewn to the side of the crown at the top. A brown synthetic satin ribbon is placed at the side of the crown and is tied at the center back. Black…
2022
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA stoneware sculpture by Theaster Gates. The sculpture (2024.38.1a) is a large cylinder shaped vessel with a flat bottom and a rounded top. It has a dark glaze that appears in tones of grey, black, brown, and rust. It is covered in short, uniformally…
ca. 1919
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGPrinted caption on recto reads: "32. Congo Belge; Noirs réunissant du bois pour le chauffage des vapeurs. / Belgisch Congo; Negers die brandhout inzamelen voor de stoombooten." Translated postcard caption reads: "32. Belgian Congo. Blacks collecting wood…
1950s-1960s
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black handbag with a circular strap. The purse is composed of two black vinyl panels. The front panel of the bag is seamed to the back panel at the bottom and includes the front half of the circular handle. The back is designed the same way and includes…
late 20th century
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black vinyl hat with a wide brim. The hat has a flat crown, the crown is made of two pieces of vinyl one for the top of the crown and one for the sides. The crown is hand sewn to the brim and has a center back seam along the side of the crown. The brim…
n.d.
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGCataloged as “Black Voices Lyrics” (Text).
1972
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGCataloged as “Black Ware Vessel Collection from North Ibie, Purchase Record, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria” (Slides (photographs)).
1972
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGCataloged as “Black Ware Water Cooler Collection from North Ibie, Purchase Record, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria” (Slides (photographs)).
1990
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA documentary short with the title Black Water. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm polyester film with variable area optical sound. The documentary focuses on the effects of water pollution in a river in Sao Braz, Bahia, Brazil. Through translated…
ca. 1985
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black and tan African wax print ensemble (a-d). The shirt (a) has an all over print (possibly roller printed) that is made to look like a traditional resist dye print. The pattern has a series of repeat African-inspired motifs split into two columns. The…
1970s
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA high crown hat with made with a an all-over black and tan African-inspired tribal print fabric. There are areas of water damage on the crown and the brim of the hat that reveal its fusible interfacing. The inner lining is made from a black synthetic…
1980s
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black, white, and silver dress with a dropped waist designed by Peter Davy. The bodice of the dress has a sweetheart front and a low square-cut back neckline, with short pouf sleeves and a dropped waist with a full pleated skirt below the waist. The…
1967
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGThis image depicts two men at an anti-war rally at Boston Common. The men are standing side by side, arms around each other's shoulders. They face the viewer, the man on the right holding his free arm out in front of him, hand open, fingers splayed, palm…
1990-2010
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGThis black and rainbow-colored wig was worn by George Clinton. The synthetic hair is a mullet style with the back reaching below the shoulders. Most of the hair is black, but rainbow-colored chunks and braids, strands of silver plastic beads, pink and blue…
Biographies, museum objects and archive records are distinct card types. Every card links to its historical source.
