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Museum object · Clothing - Military Uniforms

Coat made of American bison hide

mid 19th-early 20th century

United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A double-breasted great coat with a notched collar and full length sleeves made from hand-pieced American bison hide. The coat has eight (8) dark brown buttons in two rows down the center front opening. The buttons are hooked with loops of brown cording that are attached along both the proper right and proper left fronts so that the coat can be closed right over left or left over right. The proper right and proper left lapels have one (1) additional button and loop for added closure around the wearer's neck. There are two (2) exterior pockets on the coat, one at the proper right front waist and one at the proper left front waist. The body of the coat is lined with navy blue wool tweed while the sleeves are lined with off-white cotton or linen. The lining of the arms is machine-stitched.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2014.179.2

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