Drama Desk Award presented to Melvin Van Peebles

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 Drama Desk award for Most Promising Book Writer presented to Melvin Van Peebles. The award is printed on cream colored paper that is mounted inside a black frame. [DRAMA DESK AWARD / 1971- 1972 / PRESENTED TO MELVIN VAN PEEBLES / MOST PROMISING BOOK WRITER / “AIN’T SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH”] is printed in the center of the award in black text. Additional handwritten text in the bottom proper right and proper left corners read [CHAIRMAN, AWARDS COMMITTEE] AND [PRESIDENT, DRAMA DESK] respectively. Above the text on the proper right is a faded signature that reads [HENRY HEWES] and a signature above the proper left [EMORY LEWIS]. The award has been mounted in a thin, black, rectangular picture frame with carved and beveled decorative edges. The frame is missing its protective glass cover but is backed with a piece of cardboard with cutout stands for portrait or landscape orientation.

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