Mandela: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A documentary film with the title Mandela. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm polyester film with optical sound.

The film, directed by Peter Davis, co-produced by Peter Davis and Mable Haddock, and narrated by Max Robinson, describes the struggles of Nelson Mandela in Apartheid South Africa through the lens of his then wife Winnie Mandela. It includes interviews with individuals such as Zindiswa Mandela, the Mandelas’ daughter, Paul Joseph, Adelaide Joseph, Adelaide Tambo, and Famita Meer. Additionally, there is archival footage of political speeches, marches and protests.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1986
• Directed by: Peter Davis, British, born 1933
• Produced by: Mable Haddock, American
• Produced by: Peter Davis, British, born 1933
• Produced by: Villon Films, Canadian, founded 1970
• Narrated by: Max Robinson, American, 1939 - 1988
• Subject of: Winnie Mandela, South African, 1936 - 2018
• Subject of: Nelson Mandela, South African, 1918 - 2013
• Owned by: D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
• Type: documentaries
• Type: sound films
• Type: color films (visual works)
• Type: feature films
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: polyester film
• Dimensions: Duration: 50 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 1800 Feet
• Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: South Africa, Africa
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Activism
• Topic: Africa
• Topic: Documentary films
• Topic: Families
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Men
• Object number: 2017.55.91.1a
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.