The Ceremonies in Dark Old Men: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A script titled "The Ceremonies in Dark Old Men" written and used by Lonne Elder, III. The script has an original black cover (2019.28.2.1) and 108 interior pages (2019.28.2.2.1-.108). The cover is embossed with gold text reading [THE CEREMONIES / IN DARK OLD MEN / by Lonne Elder, III]. Also printed in gold text in the bottom left corner of the cover is [studio duplicating service, inc. / 434 west 43rd street new york / LO 3-1225]. The typewritten pages are single-sided and printed in black ink on white paper. The script was originally fastened with two brass-colored fasteners. The title page is inscribed with the author’s contact information.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1965
• Written by: Lonne Elder III, American, 1927 - 1996
• Printed by: Studio Duplicating Service, Inc., American, 1957 - 1997
• Subject of: Negro Ensemble Company, American, founded 1967
• Type: scripts (documents)
• Medium: ink on paper with metal
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 11 1/2 × 9 × 3/4 in. (29.2 × 22.9 × 1.9 cm)
• Place used: New York City, Manhattan, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Drama (Theatre)
• Topic: Literature
• Topic: Theatre companies
• Object number: 2019.82.2
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Lonne Elder III Estate
• 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: © Lonne Elder III Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.