Daimond Teeth Mary McClain, 1992: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black-and-white photograph of Diamond Teeth Mary McClain singing and holding a tambourine during a performance in Charlotte, NC. She is wearing a sequinned hat, glasses, and a dress with collar sequins. She is holding a microphone in her right hand. A tambourine is visible at the bottom of the frame.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1992
• Photograph by: David D. Spitzer, American
• Subject of: Mary "Diamond Teeth" McClain, American, 1902 - 2000
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 13 3/4 x 9 15/16 in. (34.9 x 25.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 13 3/4 x 10 7/8 in. (34.9 x 27.6 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Matted): 20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.6 cm)
• Place captured: Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Blues (Music)
• Topic: Gospel (Music)
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2012.164.40
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of David D. Spitzer
• 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: © David D. Spitzer Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.