Photograph of a group of men and women taken at the Ubangi Club: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A silver gelatin print depicting a sepia toned image of a group of men and women taken at the Ubangi Club. The souvenir photograph is framed in a white decorative folder (2013.46.25.66.2). The image depicts seven (7) women and two (2) men. One (1) man and woman stand on the left side of the image, while the rest are seated in a row. Laura Cathrell is the third person from the right. She is seated with her legs crossed and her hands folded over a dark purse, resting in her lap. She is wearing a white dress and a floral hat. The rest of the women are wearing dresses or skirts and blouses. Many of the women sport half up hairstyles or hats. One of the men is seated to the right of Cathrell. He is depicted in profile, partially obscured by the woman to his right who is wearing a black hat with a small, lace veil. In the background is a doorway. Next to the doorway is a wallpapered wall with three glass bottles perched in the top left corner. There are no inscriptions on the front or back of the photograph.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: ca. 1942
• Photograph by: Ubangi Club, American, 1934 - 1944
• Subject of: Laura Cathrell, 1914 - 1999
• Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men
• Subject of: Unidentified Woman or Women
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 4 13/16 × 6 3/4 in. (12.2 × 17.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 5 1/16 × 7 in. (12.8 × 17.8 cm)
• Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Place printed: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Dance
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Theatre
• Object number: 2013.46.25.66.1
• 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.