Photograph of Bobbie Davis: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Bobbie Davis standing between two (2) columns. She stands with her arms extended above her head with her hands resting on each of the columns. She wears a white dress overlaid with a white tunic. The tunic's sleeves and hem are detailed with rhinestones. At her waist she wears a belt. On the bottom edge of the image, between the woman and the column is white text with the photographer's name [YOUNG / ST. LOUIS]. In the lower left corner of the image is an inscription in blue ink that reads, [To my Pal Sally / Don't forget Detroit / of all places you go. / And I want myself! he he! / Dear old Room 200 / Bobbie Davis / April 9, 1937]. There are no inscriptions on the back of the image.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: April 9, 1937
• Photograph by: Young Studio, American
• Subject of: Bobbie Davis
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 9 5/8 × 7 7/16 in. (24.4 × 18.9 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 10 1/16 × 7 13/16 in. (25.6 × 19.8 cm)
• Place made: Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Dance
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2013.46.25.36
• 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: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.