Keychain with six keys owned by Cab Calloway: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A2015.273.1.27a: The keychain features a horseshoe charm on one end and a St. Christopher medal on the other end, divided by short silver chain. The horseshoe charm has an embellished front with thin channels, segmented by silver dots, running down each side of the horseshoe. The back of the horseshoe is plain but features stamped text that reads [STERLING]. On the other end of the keychain is a St. Christopher medal. The metal is small and circular a with a soldered bezel. One side of the metal features a molded image of St. Christopher which depicts him with the Christ child sitting on his shoulder and a staff in his hand with water up to his waist. The Christ child is holding a globus cruciger. Molded text and printed along the left and right edges read [ST. CHRISTOPHER] and [BE MY GUIDE]. The back of the medal is plain. Between the horseshoe charm and the medal is a thin, silver chain holding six keys.

A2015.273.1.27b: The key closest to the horseshoe charm is a silver tone General Motors key with an octagonal shaped head. On one side, at the center of the head, is large, molded text that reads [GM]. Molded text printed around the edges of the key reads [GENERAL], [MOTORS], and [ CORP.]. Stamped text just below the keychain hole reads [8112]. On the backside of the key head is additional molded text printed just below the keyhole and at the center that read [KNOCK OUT / MADE IN U.S.A. / D-R]. Molded text around the edges of the head real [BRIGGS &], [STRATTON], and [CORP.]. The blade is longer than the head and features a series of small notches that terminates in a pointed tip. The silver tone has partially worn off, exposing the brass below.

A2015.273.1.27c: The second key from the horseshoe charm is another silver tone General Motors key with an octagonal head. On one side, at the center of the head, is large, molded text that reads [GM]. Molded text printed around the edges of the key read [GENERAL], [MOTORS], and [ CORP.]. On the backside of the key head is additional molded text printed just below the keyhole and at the center that read [KNOCK - OUT / MADE IN U.S.A.]. Just below is a molded diamond shape with text at the center that reads [BASCO]. Molded text on either side of the bottom point of the diamond reads [MIL.] on the left, and [WIS.], on the right. Molded text around the edges of the head read [BRIGGS], [STRATTON], and [CORP.]. Stamped text on the shoulder reads [15]. The blade is longer than the head and features a series of small notches that terminates in a pointed tip. The silver tone has mostly worn off, exposing the brass below.

A2015.273.1.27d: The third key from the horseshoe charm is a small, silver tone General Motors key. It has a club shape head. On one side, at the center of the head, is large, molded text that reads [GM]. Molded text printed around the edges of the key head reads [GENERAL], [MOTORS], and [ CORP.]. Stamped text just below the keychain hole reads [9244]. On the backside of the key head is additional molded text printed just below the keyhole and at the center that reads [KNOCK OUT / MADE IN U.S.A. / DR]. Molded text around the edges of the head reads [BRIGGS &], [STRATTON], and [CORP.]. The blade is longer than the head and features a series of small notches that terminates in a pointed tip. The silver tone has almost entirely worn off, exposing the brass below.

A2015.273.1.27e: The fourth key from the horseshoe charm is a small, brass tone luggage key. The key has a squat, club shaped head. One side of the head features stamped text at the center that reads [AN 31] above molded text that reads [CHICAGO / ILL.]. Additional molded text around the side edges of the head read [CHICAGO], on the left, and [LOCK CO.], on the right. The other side of the head is plain. The luggage key has elongated shoulders and a short set of notches along with the blade that terminates in a pointed tip.

A2015.273.1.27f: The fifth key from the horseshoe charm is a brass tone key with a circular head. The key features molded text at the center that reads [KEIL] in larger text at the center, bookended with smaller text that reads [NEW], on the left, and [YORK], on the right. The text is framed. Small, molded text below the frame reads [2B]. The back of the head is plain. The key shoulders are bulbous and extend over either side of the blade. The blade is longer than the head and features a series of small notches that terminates in a pointed tip.

A2015.273.1.27g: The sixth key from the horseshoe charm is a silver tone Yale key with a circular head. The key features molded text at the center that reads [YALE] over a textured surface. Small, molded text around the top edge of the head reads [THE YALE & TOWNE MFG. CO.]. The back of the head is plain with small, stamped text along the top edge that reads [MADE IN U.S.A.]. The key shoulders are square and extend over either side of the blade. The blade is longer than the head and features a series of small notches that terminates in a pointed tip.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: mid 20th-late 20th century
• Manufactured by: Unidentified
• Manufactured by: General Motors Corporation, founded 1908
• Manufactured by: Briggs and Stratton, American, founded 1908
• Manufactured by: Chicago Lock Company, American
• Manufactured by: Francis Keil and Son, Inc., American
• Manufactured by: Yale, Swedish, founded 1840
• Owned by: Cab Calloway, American, 1907 - 1994
• Type: keys and key components
• Type: keys (hardware)
• Medium: A2015.273.1.27a: sterling silver
• Medium: A2015.273.1.27b-g: metal
• Dimensions: H x W x D (Overall): 2 1/16 × 3 3/4 × 15/16 in. (5.2 × 9.5 × 2.4 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (A2015.273.1.27a): 13/16 × 3 3/4 × 1/16 in. (2 × 9.5 × 0.1 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (A2015.273.1.27b): 1 15/16 × 13/16 × 1/16 in. (4.9 × 2 × 0.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (A2015.273.1.27c): 1 15/16 × 13/16 × 1/16 in. (4.9 × 2 × 0.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (A2015.273.1.27d): 1 15/16 × 13/16 × 1/16 in. (4.9 × 2 × 0.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (A2015.273.1.27e): 1 1/2 × 13/16 × 1/16 in. (3.8 × 2 × 0.2 cm)
• Place made: Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States, North and Central America
• Place made: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
• Place made: New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Band (Music)
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Conductors (Musicians)
• Topic: Dance
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Topic: Transportation
• Object number: A2015.273.1.27a-g
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cabella Calloway Langsam
• 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: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.