Photograph of Velma Middleton and Louis Armstrong: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Velma Middleton and Louis Armstrong. The two are depicted from the shoulders up sitting closely together, with their heads touching. Middleton is depicted playing a trumpet while Armstrong holds his proper left hand to his proper left ear. Middleton is wearing a dark top and looking towards the top of the image. Armstrong is wearing a white tuxedo, black bowtie, and is looking towards the left edge of the image. Armstrong has a comical expression on his face. Near the left corner of the image is an inscription in blue ink that reads, [X Marks / the spot / With Love / to Laura / Velma / Middleton]. Black text printed in the negative at the bottom right reads [BRUSSELS, '49]. There are no inscriptions on the back of the photograph.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1949
• Photograph by: Unidentified
• Subject of: Velma Middleton, American, 1917 - 1961
• Subject of: Louis Armstrong, American, 1901 - 1971
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 4 13/16 × 6 13/16 in. (12.3 × 17.3 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 5 1/8 × 7 1/16 in. (13 × 18 cm)
• Place captured: Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium, Europe
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Conductors (Musicians)
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2013.46.25.70
• 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.