Uniform for the FAMU marching band: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A Florida A&M University Marching Band Director’s jacket and pant uniform. The black single-breasted notched lapel jacket (a) and pants (b) are embellished primarily with silver color embroidery. The polyester jacket features padded shoulders, two flap waist pockets, and a proper left breast kerchief pocket with silver embroidery that reads FAMU.

The sleeves are embroidered with silver color thread: three circular bars around each wrist. Two plastic black buttons, one of which is missing, closes the jacket at the torso.

The interior is lined with a black synthetic material and there is soft black padding at the armpits. At the top of the is sewn three small cream color square tags, which read: [338]. On the proper right breast is a large, square, sewn-in fabric tag of red, black and white tartan design. A coat of arms with the script of letter F is set at the top of the arms, and below that, embroidered in black thread is: [Fruhauf]. Embroidered in scripted red thread below that is: [Quality Tailored]. A smaller second square tag in white, reads in blue thread embroidery: [CRAFTED WITH PRIDE / IN U.S.A.]. The words are sewn circling a red, white, and blue star.

The pants feature belt loops, hip and back pockets, and wide silver color embroidery spanning the length of legs. The waist closes with a metal gold color zipper and metal hook clasp. A green dry cleaner’s tag is safety pinned to the zipper area. On the proper right of the waist is a white sewn-in tag featuring a red, white, and blue star circled by blue words [CRAFTED WITH PRIDE / IN U.S.A.] and large black numbers [338]. Beside it is a large, faded, off-white sewn-in tag – heavily faded, indicating care instructions. Tucked discreetly in the half open proper right breast pocket, on the other side of the elaborate Fruhauf fabric tag, is an off-white care instructions tag, and a smaller, square, partly legible tag.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2000-2009
• Manufactured by: Fruhauf Uniforms, Inc., American, founded 1910
• Subject of: Florida A&M University, American, founded 1887
• Owned by: William Patrick Foster, American, 1919 - 2010
• Type: jackets
• Type: trousers
• Type: uniforms
• Medium: polyester, plastic and metal
• Dimensions: L x W (Jacket): 34 1/4 × 19 1/2 in. (87 × 49.5 cm)
• Dimensions: L x W (Sleeve): 25 3/16 × 8 1/16 in. (64 × 20.5 cm)
• Dimensions: Chest: 19 1/2 in. (49.5 cm)
• Dimensions: L x W (Pants): 43 11/16 × 16 1/8 in. (111 × 41 cm)
• Dimensions: Inseam: 32 7/8 in. (83.5 cm)
• Dimensions: Waist: 16 1/8 in. (41 cm)
• Place used: Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Conductors (Musicians)
• Topic: Education
• Topic: HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
• Topic: Marching bands (Music)
• Topic: Music
• Topic: Musicians
• Object number: 2019.94.5.1ab
• 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.