Color photographs of Eubie Blake and Bobbiegita Walker: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Five (2011.149.5.9a-d) color photographic images of Eubie Blake posing, while the artist, Bobbiegita Walker, works on the bust and unidentified people observe with the original accompanying photographic negative strip (2011.149.5.9e).

2011.149.5.9a: A color photograph of Eubie Blake sitting in a chair while being sculpted by Bobbiegita Walker. Blake is facing the camera holding his proper right hand in the air and resting his proper left hand on his lap. Walker is featured on the right and is working on the sculpture. The back of the photograph is blank.

2011.149.5.9b: A color photograph of Eubie Blake sitting in profile. Blake is holding his proper right hand in the air. Artist Bobbiegita Walker is sitting behind the sculpture of Blake in the background of the photograph. The back of the photograph is blank.

2011.149.5.9c: A color photograph of Eubie Blake sitting while be sculpted by artist Bobbiegita Walker. Blake is sitting in profile, with his proper left side facing Walker. Walker is looking at Blake and has his proper right hand on the back of the sculpture. An unidentified person's arm is partially visible in the background of the photograph. The back of the photograph is blank.

2011.149.5.9d: A color photograph of Eubie Blake sitting while be sculpted by artist Bobbiegita Walker. Blake is sitting in profile, with his proper left side facing Walker. Walker is looking at Blake and has his proper right hand on the back of the sculpture. An unidentified person is partially visible in the background of the photograph. The back of the photograph is blank.

2011.149.5.9e: A color photograph of Eubie Blake sitting in a chair while being sculpted by Bobbiegita Walker. Blake is facing the camera and has hi proper right hand raised in the air. Walker is seated on a stool on the right side of the photograph. Lew Jacobs and Bov Walker are seated behind Blake. Photographer Barbara Walker is visible in the mirror on the wall in the background of the photograph. The back of the photograph is blank.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: ca. 1981
• Photograph by: Barbara Walker, American
• Subject of: Eubie Blake, American, 1887 - 1983
• Subject of: Bobbiegita Walker, American, born 1942
• Subject of: Bov Walker, American
• Subject of: Lew Jacobs, American
• Type: chromogenic color prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: dye and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W: 3 1/2 x 5 3/16 in. (8.9 x 13.2 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Musical Theatre
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Ragtime (Music)
• Object number: 2011.149.5.9a-e
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Bobbiegita Walker
• 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: © Bobbiegita Walker Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.