Die-cut scrap depicting a racist caricature of an African American man minstrel playing the drum. Shows the full-length portrait of the man, attired in a white hat with a blue band, a white collared shirt, a white bowtie, a blue jacket with tails, white pants, and black shoes. A gold strap is slung around his shoulders, which carries the red and gold drum. He smiles as he beats the drum with a drumstick with a ball on the end that he holds in his right hand., Title supplied by cataloger., Date deduced from the visual content., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1890]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Scraps - Scrap 33 [P.2017.95.285]
Racist trade card depicting an African American man minstrel musician to promote laundry soap. Shows the man, in profile, looking toward the viewer marching with a drum strapped to his chest, and holding midstrike padded drumsticks in both hands. The man is attired in a white top hat adorned with a black ribbon, a red and white patterned jacket with long tails, a white shirt with ruffles and the collar up, and blue pants with a yellow stripe. Lautz Bros. & Co. was originally founded in 1853 in Buffalo, New York as the Lautz Company by German immigrant Wilhelm Lautz Sr. After his death in 1866, his wife, sons, and grandsons continued to run the firm from Buffalo, New York through the early 20th century., Title from item., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1885]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Lautz [P.2017.95.105]
Racist, trade card specimen depicting a caricature of an African American man minstrel drummer. Shows the man, in near profile, smiling and beating drumsticks on a drum strapped to his chest. He is attired in black shoes; pants with a stripe; a white jacket with flowers and long tails, with large buttons; a white ruffled shirt with a high collar; and a white top hat with a black band., Title devised by cataloger., Date deduced from the visual content., Printed in blue ink., Text stamped on recto: [No.] 478, 4 designs, price $1.55 per 1000., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1880]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Misc. 3 [P.2017.95.214]
Trade card promoting Clark Thread Company and depicting a racist caricature of an African American man minstrel drummer. Shows the man, in near profile, smiling and beating drumsticks on a drum strapped to his chest. The drum is a giant spool of thread labeled "Clark's Mile-End spool cotton." He is attired in black shoes; blue pants with a yellow stripe; a white jacket with pink flowers and long tails, with large buttons; a white ruffled shirt with a high collar; and a white top hat with a black band. The George A. Clark & Brother Company, manufactory of embroidery and sewing thread, was founded in 1863 in Newark, N.J. The firm was renamed Clark & Co. in 1879, and in the 1880s created a six-cord, soft finished thread called "Our New Thread" or "O.N.T." The business merged with J. & P. Coats in 1896, which lead to a series of mergers with fourteen other companies. Into the 21st century, the company continues to manufacture thread under the name Coats & Clark., Title from item., Date deduced from history of the advertised business., Advertising text printed on verso: Clark's trademark Mile-End spool thread. Best six cord. All numbers from no. 8 to 100. The colors are especially dyed to match. All shades of dress goods and can be used instead of silk by dress makers and families. The black is strong and smooth, and of the purest dye. It will retain its very deep black hue as long as silk fabrics. The white, black and colored is the standard for use upon all sewing machines., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1880]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Clark [P.2017.95.32]
