Large AKA wooden paddle belonging to Etta Moten Barnett: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This is a large wood sorority paddle. Down one side are large Greek letters Alpha Kappa Alpha “A / K/ A” in black paint. Under the letters is a symbol similar to an upside-down Greek letter psi, also in black paint. Along the handle in black paint is text that reads “SOROR BARNETT.” On the other side of the paddle along the handle in black paint is text that reads “PROBATION – 1940.” Above on the body of the paddle in black paint is the word “SORORS” followed by a list of thirteen women’s names. Below them is the word “WORMS” followed by a list of seven women’s names.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1940
• Created by: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, founded 1908
• Signed by: Marie Bridgeforth, American
• Signed by: Margaret Brown, American
• Signed by: Edwina Dickson, American
• Signed by: Jessmona Graham, American
• Signed by: Vera Horne, American
• Signed by: Wynona Moore, American
• Signed by: Janice Murphy, American
• Type: paddles (ball game equipment)
• Medium: wood with paint
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 36 × 3 7/8 × 5/8 in. (91.5 × 9.8 × 1.6 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Activism
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Associations and institutions
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Topic: Sororities
• Topic: Women
• Topic: Women's organizations
• Object number: A2022.13.1.4
• 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: © Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.