Box of dominoes used by Herman Wallace while incarcerated: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A full set of Pressman Toy dominoes in the original box used by Herman Wallace while incarcerated at Angola Prison. The cardboard box cover features bold white font against a red background, and a half-circle image of white-dotted black dominoes against a grey background. “CCR Only” is inscribed on the top of the box cover, and the printed white font reads: [Double Six Wooden / Dominoes / 28 large, solid, hardwood, engraved dominoes / with colorfast finish. / Ages 7 to adult / Pressman]. The same text is repeated on the long sides of the box cover. On the bottom of the box case are instruction in black ink on how to play, a UPC code, and manufacturer’s information: [#1520 / Pressman / © 2005 Pressman Toy Corporation, / New York, N.Y. 10011 / Made in China / Visit our website at www.pressmantoy.com\].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2005
• Manufactured by: Pressman Toy Corporation, American, founded 1922
• Owned by: Herman Wallace, American, 1941 - 2013
• Subject of: Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, American, founded 1835
• Type: dominoes (game pieces)
• Medium: wood and cardboard
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 8 7/8 × 2 3/8 × 1 in. (22.5 × 6 × 2.5 cm)
• Place used: Angola, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: American South
• Topic: Men
• Topic: Mental health
• Topic: Prisons
• Topic: Recreation
• Object number: A2018.36.1.14
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Maria Hinds
• 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: © 2005 Pressman Toy Corporation Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.