The collection

Ivory button down dress with wide collar

B. Altman and Company · 1970s

synthetic satin crepe, plain weave cellulose acetate, and metal; Length (shoulder to hem): 43 in. (109.2 cm); Width (shoulder to shoulder): 16 3/4 in. (42.5 cm); Chest (full): 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm); Waist (full): 30 in. (76.2 cm)

Team USA warm-up suit worn by Tommie Smith at 1968 Olympics

Tommie Smith · 1968

H x W x D (overall): 64 × 20 1/2 × 10 1/2 in. (162.6 × 52.1 × 26.7 cm)

1968 Olympic warm-up suit pants worn by Tommie Smith

Tommie Smith · 1968

synthetic fiber, elastic, and metal; H x W x D (on form): 44 1/4 × 20 1/2 × 9 in. (112.4 × 52.1 × 22.9 cm); H x W (flat): 41 1/2 × 19 1/2 in. (105.4 × 49.5 cm)

Jersey for the St. Louis Cardinals worn by Curt Flood

Rawlings · 1966

synthetic fiber, rayon thread, felt, and plastic; H x W x D (on form): 33 1/4 × 25 × 12 in. (84.5 × 63.5 × 30.5 cm); H x W (flat): 33 1/2 × 21 in. (85.1 × 53.3 cm)

Male doll with tan clothing

Mississippi Freedom House Co-Op · c. 1965

cotton (textile); H x W x D: 16 1/2 x 12 x 2 in. (41.9 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm)

Public domain

Piano bench owned and used by Thelonious Monk

Baldwin Piano Company · 1962

wood, metal, foam, vinyl; H x W x D: 19 5/16 × 33 7/16 × 15 9/16 in. (49 × 85 × 39.5 cm)

Dress designed by Ann Lowe

Ann Lowe · c. 1960

silk, chiffon, taffeta, net, metal, and elastic; H x W x D (On form): 42 1/2 × 24 × 16 1/2 in. (108 × 61 × 41.9 cm); Waist: 24 in. (61 cm)

Fruit of Islam uniform

Fruit of Islam · c. 1960

polyester with cotton (textile) , patent leather

Black fur hat with woven trim and bow

Linda Page · 1960s-1970s

fur felt, rayon Petersham ribbon, silk, and adhesive; H x W x D: 5 1/2 × 14 × 13 × 21 in. (14 × 35.6 × 33 × 53.3 cm)

<I>The Nation's Prayer Call Vol. 2 No. 4</I>

Zion Baptist Church · 1956–1957

ink on paper; H x W: 12 1/8 × 9 1/16 in. (30.8 × 23 cm)

Public domain

Racing shirt for the New York Pioneer Club worn by Ted Corbitt

Wilton · 1950s

fleece on cotton; H x W: 23 1/4 × 15 3/8 in. (59 × 39 cm)

Pinback button advocating against drugs

N.G. Slater Corporation · 1950–2000

ink on paper with metal and plastic; H x W x D: 1 3/4 × 1 1/2 × 5/16 in. (4.4 × 3.8 × 0.8 cm)

Graduation program for the Homer G. Phillips Hospital School of Nursing

Homer G. Phillips Hospital · September 5, 1947

ink on paper; H x W (Open): 8 1/2 × 11 in. (21.6 × 27.9 cm); H x W (Closed): 8 1/2 × 5 1/2 in. (21.6 × 14 cm)

List of attendees of the launching of the S.S. Harriet Tubman

Eva Stewart Northrup · June 3, 1944

ink on paper; H x W: 7 x 5 1/2 in. (17.8 x 14 cm)

Rock from Normandy Beaches, D-Day 1944

Hattye T. Yarbrough · June 6, 1944

ink on rock; H x W x D: 3 x 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 in. (7.6 x 5.7 x 3.2 cm)

Public domain

Green velvet dress worn by Lena Horne in the film Stormy Weather

Helen Rose · 1943

velvet with metal and fur; H x W: 53 x 24 in. (134.6 x 61 cm)

<I>Washington, D.C. Government Charwoman (American Gothic)</I>

Gordon Parks · 1942; printed 1990s

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper; H x W: 14 × 11 in. (35.6 × 27.9 cm)

Public domain

Samsonite hat box suitcase from Mae's Millinery Shop

Samsonite · 1941–1994

plastic, metal, synthetic fiber, and elastic; H x W x D: 17 1/2 × 18 1/4 × 7 1/4 in. (44.5 × 46.4 × 18.4 cm)

<I>Untitled</I>

Lewis Wickes Hine · c. 1935

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper; H x W: 5 x 7 in. (12.7 x 17.8 cm)

Public domain

<I>Untitled</I>

Lewis Wickes Hine · c. 1935

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper; H x W: 7 x 5 in. (17.8 x 12.7 cm)

Public domain

China bread and butter plates/dessert plates from the Rock Rest Tourist Home

Noritake Co. · c. 1933

paint on leaf (metal) porcelain; H x W x D: 9/16 × 6 3/8 × 6 3/8 in. (1.4 × 16.2 × 16.2 cm); Diameter: 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm)

China fruit/dessert bowls from the Rock Rest Tourist Home

Noritake Co. · c. 1933

paint on leaf (metal) porcelain; H x W x D: 1 1/8 × 5 3/16 × 5 3/16 in. (2.8 × 13.2 × 13.2 cm); Diameter: 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm)

Beaded purse used by Dinah Washington

Jorelle Bags · 1930s

glass beads, metal, and silk satin; H x W x D: 5 3/4 x 7 1/2 x 1 in. (14.6 x 19.1 x 2.5 cm)

Photograph of Mary Lou Williams playing piano with Andy Kirk and his orchestra

Gordon Conner Studio · 1930s; autographed 1980

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper; H x W: 8 1/8 × 10 in. (20.6 × 25.4 cm)

Public domain