Composite photograph of three men and a woman dressed in theatrical costumes: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Two identical silver gelatin prints depicting a black-and-white composite image of three (3) unidentified men and Laura Cathrell dressed in theatrical costumes. Cathrell stands left of center, in profile, with her torso turned towards the men on the right side of the image. She is wearing a dark toned, cropped, short sleeve blouse, a stripped skirt with ruffles along the hem, and a tall hat with a large feather plume extending from the top of the hat. She is depicted looking down towards the man on the far left. He is wearing an open shirt, laced, with large dark and light bands on the sleeves, white pants, sandals, and a brimmed straw hat decorated with diagonal stripes on the edge of the brim. He is kneeling with a conga drum held on his upper thighs. His hands are poised above the drumhead, which faces to the left edge of the image. The drum is decorated with geometric bands. On the right side of Cathrell are two (2) additional men standing, both looking towards her. Both wear outfits similar to the man kneeling. The man on the left is holding maracas in both hands and is facing Cathrell. The man on the far right stands with his back to the other performers and his torso turned to the right edge of the image. Partially cut off white text, printed in the negative, in the bottom right corner reads, [JAMES KOLL[ÁR / RADIO CITY, N.Y.]]. There are no inscriptions on the front or back of the image.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: early 20th-mid 20th century
• Photograph by: James Kollar
• Subject of: Laura Cathrell, 1914 - 1999
• Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: 2013.46.25.118.1: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Medium: 2013.46.25.118.2: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.118.1 Image): 7 7/16 × 9 9/16 in. (18.9 × 24.3 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.118.1 Sheet): 8 × 9 15/16 in. (20.3 × 25.3 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.118.2 Image): 7 9/16 × 9 5/8 in. (19.2 × 24.4 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (2013.46.25.118.2 Sheet): 8 1/16 × 10 1/4 in. (20.4 × 26 cm)
• Place made: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Music
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Stereotypes
• Topic: Theatre
• Object number: 2013.46.25.118.1-.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 underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.