Photographic postcards of Lue Swarz: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Two (2) photographic postcards depicting three (3) black-and-white images of Lue Swarz. The photographs are divided into three (3) panels divided by (2) vertical black bars. The bar on the left has a white panel with vertical, black script the reads, [AS / A / P / E / R / S / O / N / A / L / I / T / Y] with an arrow and three flourishes below. The bar on the right has a white panel with vertical, black script the reads, [AS / S / O / U / J / O / U / R / N / E / R / T / R / U / T / H] with three flourishes below. The central panel depicts an image of Swarz resting her arms and chin on a black surface with a rounded top. There is a white panel below her with black script that reads, [Affectionately / Yours, / Lue Swarz]. Swarz’s head is slightly tilted to the right and she is looking up towards the left edge of the image. On the left is an image of Swarz seated on a white block in front of a white arch shaped background. Next to her is a large rectangular planter with white flowers. At her feet is a basket of more white flowers. Swarz is wearing a black jacket and skirt over a white, ruffle neck blouse. She has a flower corsage pinned to the front of her jacket. A number and the photographer's mark, printed in the negative in the bottom left corner read, [2943] and [YOUNG / ST. LOUIS]. On the right is an image of Swarz, depicted in profile, seated on a wooden back chair. Swarz is wearing a black, nineteenth century dress and bonnet. The photographer's mark, printed in the negative in the bottom left corner reads, [YOUNG / ST. LOUIS]. On the back of the postcard is black text printed along the left edge that reads, [ORCAJO PHOTO ART, DAYTON, OHIO]. Across the top edge of the postcard reads, [POST CARD / CORRESPONDENCE / ADDRESS] and on the far right is a stamp box with the text [PLACE / STAMP / HERE] inside and the letters [D / O / P / S] at each corner of the box. There are no inscriptions on either postcard.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1936
• Photograph by: Young Studio, American
• Printed by: Orcajo Photo Art, American
• Subject of: Lue Swarz, American
• Type: portraits
• Type: picture postcards
• Medium: ink on paper
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.242.1): 3 7/16 × 5 7/16 in. (8.8 × 13.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.242.2): 3 7/16 × 5 7/16 in. (8.8 × 13.8 cm)
• Place printed: Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Correspondence
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Theatre
• Object number: 2013.46.25.242.1-.2
• 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: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.