Amazing Grace: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An Atlantic Records album SD 2-906. The album is named Amazing Grace and performed by Aretha Franklin. It contains two records.

2015.191.9a: A vinyl long-playing record with a red, white and green label at the center on each side. Side one has four songs: Mary, Don't You Weep, Precious Lord, Take My Hand/You've Got a Friend, Old Landmark, Give yourself to Jesus. Side four has three songs: Wholy Holy, You'll Never Walk Alone, and Never Grow Old.

2015.191.9b: A vinyl long-playing record with a red, white and green label at the center on each side. Side two has songs: How I Got Over, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Amazing Grace. Side three has four songs: Precious Memories, Climbing Higher Mountains, Remarks by Reverend C. L. Franklin, God Will Take Care of You.

2015.191.9c: A cardboard album cover. The album cover features a photo of Aretha Franklin sitting barefoot on steps in a pink dress and head wrap. The interior of the cover has additional photos, comments about Aretha Franklin, a list of songs, and production information. The back of the album depicts Franklin in the same outfit dipping her toe into a small pond.

2015.191.9d: A paper album sleeve for (2015.11.9a). The paper sleeve looks like a black and white marble composition book. The front of the paper sleeve has text that reads: [Compositions from Atlantic Records] and the Atlantic Records logo. The back has text that reads: [Property of / Subject].

2015.191.9e: A paper album sleeve for (2015.11.9b). The paper sleeve looks like a black and white marble composition book. The front of the paper sleeve has text that reads: [Compositions from Atlantic Records] and the Atlantic Records logo. The back has text that reads: [Property of / Subject].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1972
• Recorded by: Aretha Franklin, American, 1942 - 2018
• Subject of: Rev. James Cleveland, American, 1931 - 1991
• Type: record covers
• Type: long-playing records
• Medium: vinyl , ink on cardboard , paper
• Dimensions: Diameter (2015.191.9a): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
• Dimensions: Diameter (2015.191.9b): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2015.191.9c): 12 3/8 × 12 1/4 in. (31.4 × 31.1 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2015.191.9d): 12 × 12 1/8 in. (30.5 × 30.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2015.191.9e): 12 × 12 1/8 in. (30.5 × 30.8 cm)
• Place depicted: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Gospel (Music)
• Topic: Rhythm and blues (Music)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Topic: Soul (Music)
• Object number: 2015.191.9a-e
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• 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: © 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporation Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.