Organ Shoes worn by Althea Thomas

Shoes worn by Althea Thomas while she served as the organist for Martin Luther King, Jr. at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, 1955-1959
Shoes worn by Althea Thomas while she served as the organist for Martin Luther King, Jr. at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, 1955-1959
Description (Brief):

Althea Thomas served as organist for Martin Luther King Jr.’s congregation at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama from 1955 unti King announcing his departure for Atlanta in December, 1959. Her performances while wearing these shoes of gospel anthems such as “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” inspired King and his congregationevery Sunday during the landmark Montgomery bus boycott.

Description (Brief)

A pair of black tap shoes made by Bloch, modified to play organ bass pedals. Thomas removed the metal taps on the bottoms of the shoes to use them as organ shoes.

Referenced: King, Jr., Martin LutherUser: Thomas, AltheaMaker: Bloch Company

Worn: United States: Alabama, Montgomery

Subject: Civil Rights Movement

Subject:

See more items in: Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments, Music & Musical Instruments

Exhibition: Entertainment Nation

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Credit Line: Gift of Althea Thomas

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 2019.0071.01Accession Number: 2019.0071Catalog Number: 2019.0071.01

Object Name: shoes, pair of

Physical Description: canvas (overall material)textile (overall material)rubber (overall material)leather (overall material)metal (overall material)Measurements: overall: 3 1/4 in x 3 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in; 8.255 cm x 8.89 cm x 24.13 cmpart: left shoe: 3 3/8 in x 3 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in; 8.5725 cm x 8.89 cm x 24.13 cm

Metadata Usage: CC0

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-685f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1930237

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