Photograph of Ethel Moses: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Ethel Moses. Moses is depicted in full length, on a wooden stage at the Ubangi Club. She is standing with her arms akimbo with her hands resting on her hips, her body is turned towards the right side of the image, and with her head tilted toward the left side of the image and smiling. She is looking towards the left edge of the image. She is wearing a one piece, bathing suit costume. The top of the suit has a halter neck and a diagonally striped top. The bottom of the suit is dark with a striped belt that matches the top of the suit. On the stage behind her is a set featuring a facade of close-set buildings. Over the subject’s legs is a handwritten inscription in black ink that reads, [proof]. In the center of the top edge of the photograph is a second inscription in black ink that reads, [#2]. There are no inscriptions on the back of the photograph.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1937
• Photograph by: Hughey J. Battelle
• Subject of: Ethel Moses, American, 1904 - 1982
• Subject of: Ubangi Club, American, 1934 - 1944
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 9 × 7 in. (22.9 × 17.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 9 15/16 × 7 15/16 in. (25.2 × 20.1 cm)
• Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Dance
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Mass media
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Photography
• Object number: 2013.46.25.172
• 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.