Culture

The culture collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture presents a comprehensive sweep of African American creative expression including music, literary arts, religion, language, beauty, culture, entertainment and sports. It also includes material culture like the building arts, whether on a small scale like baskets, quilts and crafts as well as architecture.

As a national museum representing culture, the collection represents the diverse African American experience from across the country, focusing on regional, ethnic, and generational differences. The artifacts, archival materials (such as letters, ethnographic records, photographs, documentary records, etc.) artistic images and recordings support the documentation of African American originality, adaptation and creative inventiveness. The museum is also interested in the many ways that African Americans pass on cultural traditions from one generation to the next.

African Americans have consciously and unconsciously preserved elements of African cultural heritage in a variety of cultural forms such as hair, dance, language, or kinship patterns. The museum’s collection reflects these connections to the Diaspora from Africa to the Caribbean and Europe.

The kinds of artifacts that we are collecting are those related to the achievements of individuals and groups that are linked to music, religion, fashion, humor, theater, and expression ranging from spoken-word to hip-hop graffiti.

Transit Pass, St. Louis, MO, July 8-14, 1945

This weekly bus pass carries an advertisement for the 6th Annual American Negro Music Festival. Similar festivals had been held in Chicago, Ill. where the National City Line bus company was headquartered. The festival featured leading African American performers.

Product tin, Madam C. J. Walker’s Manufacturing Co. Indianapolis, IN, c. 1925

Image Courtesy Swann Galleries

Madam C.J. Walker helps us to tell the story of early black entrepreneurship and philanthropy, and the remarkable career of a woman born to former slaves who through her own vision and hard work provides education and work for black women. Walker becomes a millionaire and a role model for several generations.