Cultures & Communities

Furniture, cooking wares, clothing, works of art, and many other kinds of artifacts are part of what knit people into communities and cultures. The Museum’s collections feature artifacts from European Americans, Latinos, Arab Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, African Americans, Gypsies, Jews, and Christians, both Catholics and Protestants. The objects range from ceramic face jugs made by enslaved African Americans in South Carolina to graduation robes and wedding gowns. The holdings also include artifacts associated with education, such as teaching equipment, textbooks, and two complete schoolrooms. Uniforms, insignia, and other objects represent a wide variety of civic and voluntary organizations, including youth and fraternal groups, scouting, police forces, and firefighters.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2011.0164.29
catalog number
2011.0164.29
accession number
2011.0164
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2009
maker
Reveles, Luis
ID Number
2009.0224.03
catalog number
2009.0224.03
accession number
2009.0224
Savas Zahvala Castro wore this hat when he was a bracero working in California.The Emergency Farm Labor Program, or the Bracero Program (1942-1964), recruited two million Mexican nationals to come to the United States on short-term labor contracts.
Description
Savas Zahvala Castro wore this hat when he was a bracero working in California.
The Emergency Farm Labor Program, or the Bracero Program (1942-1964), recruited two million Mexican nationals to come to the United States on short-term labor contracts. Some returned to Mexico; others stayed in the U.S. to work, marry, or start new lives and advanced, using the knowledge they gained while in the U.S. These settlements of Mexican, Mexican American migrants eventually formed thriving communities in the U.S.
Location
Currently not on view
used date
1942-1945
user
Castro, Savas Zavala
ID Number
2005.0192.01
accession number
2005.0192
catalog number
2005.0192.01
This black fabric baseball-style cap has a white embroidered Egyptian symbol image on front and embroidered text “Universal Zulu Nation” on the side. It was available through the Universal Zulu Nation company created by hip hop artist Afrika Bambaata (b.
Description (Brief)
This black fabric baseball-style cap has a white embroidered Egyptian symbol image on front and embroidered text “Universal Zulu Nation” on the side. It was available through the Universal Zulu Nation company created by hip hop artist Afrika Bambaata (b. 1957).
Afrika Bambaata (born Kevin Donovan), an American DJ from the Bronx, was influential in the early development of hip hop and is regarded as the “Godfather” of hip hop culture. He has been instrumental in spreading hip hop music and culture around the world, as well as creating opportunities and helping to improve the lives of others in the hip hop community through his organization "Universal Zulu Nation." In 1990, Bambaataa made Life magazine's "Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" issue.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2006.0067.07
accession number
2006.0067
catalog number
2006.0067.07
The pava is the traditional hat used by sugar cane cutters, coffee pickers, and other agricultural workers. It is emblematic of the jíbaro (a Puerto Rican from the countryside) and the rustic traditions of the island's folkways.
Description
The pava is the traditional hat used by sugar cane cutters, coffee pickers, and other agricultural workers. It is emblematic of the jíbaro (a Puerto Rican from the countryside) and the rustic traditions of the island's folkways. The pava is so closely associated with the notion of authentic Puerto Rican culture that when Luis Muñoz Marín founded the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) in 1938, the party adopted the pava, as its symbol.
Description (Spanish)
La pava es el sombrero tradicional que usan los trabajadores del campo, tales como los cortadores de caña o los recolectores de café. Es emblemático de los jíbaros (puertorriqueños del campo) y de las costumbres rústicas de la isla. Se relaciona tan estrechamente con la cultura puertorriqueña que cuando Luis Muñoz Marín fundó el Partido Demócrata Popular (PDP) en 1938 el partido adoptó la pava como símbolo.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1036.002
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1036.002
This maroon fabric baseball-style cap has a white embroidered Egyptian symbol image on front and embroidered text “Universal Zulu Nation” on the side. It was available through the Universal Zulu Nation company created by hip hop artist Afrika Bambaata (b.
Description (Brief)
This maroon fabric baseball-style cap has a white embroidered Egyptian symbol image on front and embroidered text “Universal Zulu Nation” on the side. It was available through the Universal Zulu Nation company created by hip hop artist Afrika Bambaata (b. 1957).
Afrika Bambaata (born Kevin Donovan), an American DJ from the Bronx, was influential in the early development of hip hop and is regarded as the “Godfather” of hip hop culture. He has been instrumental in spreading hip hop music and culture around the world, as well as creating opportunities and helping to improve the lives of others in the hip hop community through his organization "Universal Zulu Nation." In 1990, Bambaataa made Life magazine's "Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" issue.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2006.0067.06
accession number
2006.0067
catalog number
2006.0067.06
Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes.
Description
Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
This fire hat dates to the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted black with gold bands around the top and base. "Kensington" is painted in gold above the date "1791." The number "1" is painted in gold on the opposite side, and the owner’s initials “W.H.C." are painted in gold on the top of the hat. The Kensington Fire Company was founded in 1791 in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time, Kensington was a separate municipality, and this company was the first of its kind for the area. The company operated until 1855, when it refused to join the newly organized Philadelphia Fire Department, which, although volunteer, was under the administrative and financial control of the city.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1810-1860
associated date
1791
maker
unknown
ID Number
2005.0233.0103
catalog number
2005.0233.0103
accession number
2005.0233
This red fabric fez was made by Hilmart in Morocco.
Description (Brief)
This red fabric fez was made by Hilmart in Morocco. It has a black tassel and printed graphic on the front with the texts “Proud Nuwaubian” and “United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors.” Nuwaubian teachings have inspired and influenced hip hop artists including Afrika Bambaataa, Doug E. Fresh, Erykah Badu, and Outkast. Bambaataa donated this fez to the Smithsonian in 2006.
Afrika Bambaata (born Kevin Donovan), an American DJ from the Bronx, was influential in the early development of hip hop and is regarded as the “Godfather” of hip hop culture. He has been instrumental in spreading hip hop music and culture around the world, as well as creating opportunities and helping to improve the lives of others in the hip hop community through his organization "Universal Zulu Nation." In 1990, Bambaataa made Life magazine's "Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" issue.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Hilmart
ID Number
2006.0067.04
accession number
2006.0067
catalog number
2006.0067.04

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