Cigarette Case, presented to Duke Ellington: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This cigarette case was presented to Duke Ellington in 1952. It is made of Sterling silver, engraved on the outside with names and map of United States. The Interior is gold-plated with an engraved spring holder tab. Accessioned with a yellow fleece sleeve with brown thread trim and bearing Marshall Field & Company tag. The engraved names are as follows: Lena Horne, Billy Eckstine, Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, Mahalia Jackson, Joe Louis, Nat Cole, Jackie Robinson, and Sarah Vaughan. Previously owned by jazz musician and composer, Duke Ellington. The case is engraved:

Duke Ellington: For outstanding contribution to world culture and your significant worth to and championship of your race Chicago. January 1952.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1950-1951
• user: Ellington, Duke
• referenced: Horne, Lena
• referenced: Eckstine, Billy
• referenced: Calloway, Cab
• referenced: Jordan, Louis
• referenced: Jackson, Mahalia
• referenced: Louis, Joe
• referenced: Robinson, Jackie
• Object Name: Case
• Object Name: case
• Physical Description: silver (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 1/2 in x 6 in x 3 1/2 in; 1.27 cm x 15.24 cm x 8.89 cm
• place made: United States
• ID Number: 1999.0148.02
• accession number: 1999.0148
• catalog number: 1999.0148.02
• Credit Line: Donated by Edward K. and Gaye Ellington in memory of their grandfather "Duke" Ellington
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.