Mr. Harry Flipping, was one of the originators of “Black Pride Incorporated,” a vibrant Des Moines group in the 70s and 80s: “As we were growing up, there was a lack of things for teenagers and young adults. They called...
original, complete circa 1950’s brochure about IOWA COLORED GHOSTS AFRICAN AMERICAN SOFTBALL TEAM PROGRAM. A Black Iowan softball team that staged antics to make the crowd laugh, similar to Harlem globetrotters, but maybe a bit of Jim Crow?
This 1/6 Plate tintype shows a little White girl sitting cross legged and holding a paper fan with minstrels drawn on it. The fan has two Black Minstrels African Americans drawn on it. The girl’s face and body has been...
A photograph of a White girl and boy standing by a sign. The words that are visible advertise “Terry’s Big Uncle Tom’s Cabin” Back: the black backing where the card was ripped out of an album adheres to the back...
This 1880’s cabinet photograph shows the Shepard Family Band, a White family of musicians, with their brass instruments, posing for the photographer. The drum has a sign saying “Shepard Family.” Originally from Lawrenceville, New York, the Shepard Family Band toured...
From NPR: “The cakewalk was a pre-Civil War dance originally performed by slaves on plantation grounds. The uniquely American dance was first known as the “prize walk”; the prize was an elaborately decorated cake. Hence, “prize walk” is the original source...
Tintype shows a dapper Black man on a bench posing for his photograph. The background is a dropcloth with a picture of a scene with a ticket booth and the words “NY State Fair 1903”. Whether the grass below his...
Photograph shows two children, a standing girl and a seated boy, each holding a toy. The girl holds something that looks like perhaps a ceramic bird. The boy holds the handle of a small two-wheeled toy wagon. In the wagon,...
Photo shows display in the Black building at the exposition including several statues and banners as well as a display with signage from a store advertising “Negro Druggists.” The stereoview caption says: “10695. Fetters broken, but not all, Negro Building,...
Stereoview images shows an enormously dense display of objects on the table and walls of the Black American section of the Atlanta Exposition. Portraits of Black people are hung gallery style and several Black people are seen perusing the objects....
The Preface reads: “This booklet is respectfully submitted to the teachers and others who organize Carnivals for schools and similar organizations. so far as known this is the first attempt to publish a book on this subject exclusively. Constructive criticisms and suggestions will...
This very faded stereoview shows two young Black children on a fence near a mule or horse. In very faded letters a caption on the picture says: “seeing the circus go by.” The left and right margins say: “Standard Series.”...
Photo postcard showing a group of Black people dressed in white for the Chautauqua days in Sac City Iowa. They might be jubilee singers. White tents can be seen in the background. The back has the publishers name on the...
An envelope and stationary with letterhead saying: “Harry Miller’s Ginger Snaps / Colored Orchestra / An Aggregation of Tuneful Music Makers / Melody, Mirth and Merriment / Harry Miller, Manager 1104 1/2 Center Street. Des Moines, Iowa_____________193_ During the 1930s,...
Front of tradecard shows a drawing of two white horses and a man in a blue jacket, red vest and red, white and blue cap leading them by the reins. Back: The back is all text in different sizes and...
This stereoview is of an installation at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition showing life-size facsimiles of the Sioux Chief Gaul and his family. The display represents the Dakota section and contains the explanation under the display, with the number “462”....
Two Letters from Henry and addressed to his parents about his 35th birthday and another about renting his house to a theatrical company. Envelope has stamped writing on left side “Carpenter’s Musical Comedy Co. What You’ve Been Looking For.” In...
Photo postcard with image of a line of Black performers in various types of attire on a stage. The back of the postcard says “Miss Nettie Miller / East Berlin / Adams Co / Penna MJW is written on the...
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