Memorial Quilt for Tuskegee Airman 2d Lt. James McCullin: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A quilt made in memory of Lt. James McCullin. The majority of the quilt's background is a tan fabric with a dotted blue floral design. The border of the quilt is navy blue fabric with a dotted tan floral design. In the center of the quilt is a printed photograph of James McCullin dressed as a World War II pilot. Around the portrait are triangular pieces of the blue fabric forming a sunburst pattern. Around the edges of the quilt are pieces of fabric with images and text printed on them. Many of these pieces are McCullin's personal documents such as his diploma, Army certification, and correspondence with the War Department concerning his disappearance in 1943. The images include the plane he flew, his grave, and the building named after him at Kentucky State University.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: after 1943
• Created by: Vivian Lucille McCullin, American
• Subject of: Second Lieutenant James L. McCullin, American, 1919 - 1943
• Subject of: Tuskegee Airmen, 1941 - 1946
• Subject of: 99th Pursuit Squadron, American, 1941 - 1949
• Type: quilts
• Medium: cloth and ink
• Dimensions: H x W: 41 x 39 3/4 in. (104.1 x 101 cm)
• Place depicted: Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Italy, Europe
• Place depicted: Saint Louis County, Missouri, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Aeronautics
• Topic: Families
• Topic: Military
• Topic: Tuskegee Airmen
• Topic: World War II
• Object number: 2013.52.2
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the McCullin Family, in memory of Second Lieutenant James L. McCullin
• 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.