California Rodeo, Salinas, 1919: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This real photo postcard features an image of a man riding a bull. The man and bull are in the center of the postcard with onlookers standing behind the fence in the distance. The man is wearing fur chaps, cowboy boots, a long sleeve shirt and a vest. The bull's hind legs are off of the ground. The bottom left corner contains text that reads [CALIFORNIA RODEO / SALINAS 1919]. Text on the bottom right reads [OFFICIAL PHOTO / #45 BY / MARCELL] [CALIFORNIA RODEO / SALINAS 1919] [OFFICIAL PHOTO / #45 BY / MARCELL]. The back of the postcard contains scribbled, illegible text. The word [POST CARD] is printed at the top with the words [CORRESPONDENCE] and [ADDRESS] separating the card into two sections. Text marks the spot for postage in the top right corner. The word [AZO] repeats forming a square with a triange in each corner. The words [PLACE / STAMP / HERE] are printed inside the square.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1919
• Photograph by: M.B. Marcell, American, 1869 - 1939
• Produced by: Unidentified
• Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men
• Type: photographic postcards
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper with ink
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 3 × 5 in. (7.6 × 12.7 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Card): 3 1/2 × 5 7/16 in. (8.9 × 13.8 cm)
• Place captured: Salinas, Monterey County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: American West
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Rodeos
• Object number: 2014.37.35.8
• 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 displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation. The underlying object's rights statement is: Public domain Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.