Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Pair of “Chuck Taylor All Star” Converse sneakers worn by Cab Calloway

African American Museum

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

    Object Details

    Manufactured by

    Converse, American, founded 1908

    Worn by

    Cab Calloway, American, 1907 - 1994

    Subject of

    Chuck Taylor, American, 1901 - 1969

    Description

    A pair of size 8.5 “Chuck Taylor All Star” Converse sneakers worn by Cab Calloway. The exterior upper shoes are primarily constructed from black, cotton canvas and white rubber. The toe boxes are rounded. The shoes are double stitched with white thread around the outline of the lace guards and ankle collars. The center lines of the heels are reinforced with an additional strip of black canvas. The lace guards feature matching metal eyelets that are strung with flat, white, string laces. Stitched to the proper right side of the left shoe, and the proper left side of the right shoe, are white circular labels with a large, blue, five-pointed star at the center. Blue text printed above and below the star read [CONVERSE] at the top, and [ALL STAR] at the bottom. Printed in white text across the center of the star is cursive text that reads [Chuck Taylor]. The heels are constructed from white rubber. Adhered to the back of each heel is a rubber label with a blue rectangular field at the center surrounded by alternating white and blue bands of varying thicknesses. At the center of the blue field is a five-pointed star with white text that reads [ALL / STAR]. White text in the top left corner and the bottom right corner read [CONVERSE]] and [Chuck / Taylor], respectively. There are two smaller five-pointed stars in the bottom left and top right corners of the label and below the bottom right star is additional small white text that reads [MADE IN U.S.A.]. The shoes’ soles are brown rubber with a diamond pattern tread. On the soles, molded into the arch, is text that reads [Converse / ALL STAR / 8 1/2] with a five pointed star below the word [Converse]. The throat is solid black and the insoles are white with black text that reads [CUSHION / HEEL] and CONVERSE / COMFORT ARCH] at the heel and arch respectively. The shoes are lined with white canvas.

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cabella Calloway Langsam

    Date

    late 20th century

    Object number

    A2015.273.1.18ab

    Restrictions & Rights

    © Nike
    Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    sneakers

    Medium

    canvas and rubber with cotton (textile) and metal

    Dimensions

    H x W x D (A2015.273.1.18a): 6 1/8 × 4 1/8 × 11 7/8 in. (15.5 × 10.4 × 30.2 cm)
    H x W x D (A2015.273.1.18b): 6 1/8 × 4 1/8 × 11 7/8 in. (15.5 × 10.4 × 30.2 cm)

    Place made

    Asia

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Collection title

    The Cabell “Cab” Calloway III Collection

    Classification

    Clothing - Fashion and Historical

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Band (Music)
    Basketball
    Clothing and dress
    Composers (Musicians)
    Conductors (Musicians)
    Dance
    Jazz (Music)
    Singers (Musicians)

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd551749f57-07ab-4429-b09c-5caa06e1af79

    Record ID

    nmaahc_A2015.273.1.18ab

    Discover More

    Lavender heeled boots with the symbol for the artist known as Prince

    Music and Fashion: Culture in Conversation

    ruby slippers

    Fabulous Footwear: A Walk Through Fashion and Culture

    arrow-up Back to top
    Home
    • Facebook facebook
    • Instagram instagram
    • LinkedIn linkedin
    • YouTube youtube

    • Contact Us
    • Get Involved
    • Shop Online
    • Job Opportunities
    • Equal Opportunity
    • Inspector General
    • Records Requests
    • Accessibility
    • Host Your Event
    • Press Room
    • Privacy
    • Terms of Use