Photographic plate for the April 1937 edition of The Show-Down Magazine: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A photographic plate for page 9 of the April 1937 edition of The Show-Down Magazine with four (4) photographs. The photographs are adhered to a cardboard backing. On the back of the plate are handwritten notations in pencil.

2013.46.25.267a: A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Aurora Greeley. Greeley is centrally depicted, set against a black background. She is depicted from the chin up, looking down towards the bottom edge of the photograph. She is wearing a white blouse and earrings. Greeley’s hair is pulled back and her bangs are trimmed in a high, straight line across her forehead. Her eyebrows are drawn in thin arches and she is wearing dark lipstick. The top of the photograph has been torn off, so the top of her head is not visible. There are no inscriptions on the front of the photograph.

2013.46.25.267b: A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Margie Hubbard. Hubbard is depicted standing on the Ubangi Club stage. Her body turn slightly towards the right edge of the image, her arms extended at her sides, and her proper right leg is extended behind her with her toes pointed down and towards the viewer. Hubbard is wearing medium toned overalls with front pockets over a black, short sleeve blouse. On the stage behind her is a set painted with a series of small buildings and houses. The top of the photograph has been torn off, so her head is not visible. There are no inscriptions on the front of the photograph.

2013.46.25.267c: A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Leroy Broomfield and the Ubangi Club dancers. The nine (9) are depicted standing, kneeling, and seated in three rows. In the top row, from left to right, is Margie Hubbard, Marion Edgbert, Leroy Broomfield, Ethel Moses, and Dolly McCormack. Hubbard is wearing overalls over a black blouse. Edgbert is wearing a medium toned, satiny button down top with three (3) white button down the center and white lapels. There is satin flower pinned to her proper right shoulder. Broomfield is wearing a dark toned three-piece suit and a white collared shirt, with the top button undone. Ethel Moses 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 far right is McCormack. She is wearing a black sweater vest over a white blouse with a tie front and black pants. In the middle row, from left to right, is Julia Moses and Selma Sampson. Julia Moses is wearing a medium toned garment with a bow tied at the front. Sampson is wearing a white blouse with the letters [S S] stitched on the front. In the bottom row, from left to right, is Alice Key and Wilhelmina (Tondelayo) Gray. Key is wearing a white, short sleeve blouse with a black skirt. Gray is wearing light toned sailor-style shirt with a bow tied in the front and wide legged, matching pants. On the stage behind them is a set painted with a series of small buildings and houses. There are no inscriptions on the front or back of the photograph.

2013.46.25.267d: A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of Paul Brown and the Ubangi Club dancers. The nine (9) are depicted standing in a line with their bodies facing the left edge of the photograph and their hands resting on the forearms of the person in front of them. From left to right is Margie Hubbard, Dolly McCormack, Alice Key, Marion Edgbert, Wilhelmina (Tondelayo) Gray, Ethel Moses, Julia Moses, Selma Sampson, and Paul Brown. Hubbard is wearing medium toned overalls over a black, short sleeve blouse. McCormack is wearing a black sweater vest over a white blouse with a tie front and black pants. Key is wearing a white, short sleeve blouse and a floor length, black satiny skirt. Edgbert is wearing a medium toned, short sleeve blouse with white lapels. Gray is wearing light toned sailor-style shirt and wide legged, matching pants. Ethel Moses is wearing a floral patterned robe over 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. Julia Moses is wearing a medium toned, long sleeve dress. Sampson is wearing a white blouse and a long black skirt. Brown is wearing a dark toned suit, a white collared shirt, medium toned tie, and a white pocket square in his proper left breast pocket. On the stage behind them is a set painted with a series of small buildings and houses. There are no inscriptions on the front of the photograph.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1937
• Photograph by: Hughey J. Battelle
• Subject of: Aurora Greeley, American, 1905 - 1983
• Subject of: Margie Hubbard
• Subject of: Leroy Broomfield, American, 1902 - 1971
• Subject of: Marion Edgbert
• Subject of: Ethel Moses, American, 1904 - 1982
• Subject of: Dolly McCormack
• Subject of: Julia Moses, American
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper on cardboard
• Dimensions: H x W x D (Overall): 12 1/4 × 5 11/16 × 1/16 in. (31.1 × 14.5 × 0.1 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image and sheet): 3 5/8 × 3 5/16 in. (9.2 × 8.4 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image and sheet): 3 9/16 × 1 7/8 in. (9 × 4.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image and sheet): 4 7/16 × 5 3/16 in. (11.3 × 13.1 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image and sheet): 4 × 5 7/16 in. (10.2 × 13.8 cm)
• Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Dance
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Mass media
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Photography
• Object number: 2013.46.25.267a-d
• 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.