Shako used by Florida A&M University Marching Band: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A Florida A&M University Marching Band shako. Constructed of a hard plastic, the large bulb-like hat is covered in a fluffy white synthetic fabric. Draped across the forehead area is are three synthetic braided cords, red and green, which are connected to each side of the head by silver colored lyre buttons. In the middle of the cords is a large, round, silver colored star and leaf emblem. Lower, a green braided synthetic cord is draped across the plastic white visor, held in place on each side of the head by a silver colored lyre button. The underside of the visor rim features silver colored plastic and black writing: [100]. Also attached to the lower green braided cord, is a white chin-strap belt. The inside of the hat features the exposed and textured white plastic frame and off-white perforated plastic rim liner, held in shape by black synthetic cord. There is a worn size tag and purple writing on the rim liner, at the back of the head.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1970-1979
• Manufactured by: Unidentified
• Subject of: Florida A&M University, American, founded 1887
• Owned by: William Patrick Foster, American, 1919 - 2010
• Type: hats
• Type: uniforms
• Medium: polyester, wool (hair), plastic and metal
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 12 3/16 × 10 1/2 × 12 3/8 in. (31 × 26.7 × 31.5 cm)
• Place used: Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Education
• Topic: HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
• Topic: Marching bands (Music)
• Topic: Music
• Topic: Musicians
• Object number: 2019.94.3ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Anthony Foster in memory of William P. Foster
• 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.