Object Details
Caption
Entering her fourth year as The Chicago Defender’s Washington correspondent, Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991) wore this blue-and-white press pass when covering the second inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. A paper badge hanging below the pinback button is punctuated with tiny blue elephants in a nod to political party. This badge granted Payne access to the Inaugural Ball, held January 21, 1957 at the D.C. National Guard Armory. Perhaps it was here that a famous Broadway performer inscribed “Love, Pearl Bailey” on the back of Payne’s press pass.
Cite As
Ethel Lois Payne Collection, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Gift of Avis R. Johnson.
Date
1957
Accession Number
1991.0076.0119
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
press badge
Medium
paper, plastic, metal, cotton string
Dimensions
8 9/16 × 3 7/16 × 3/8 in. (21.8 × 8.7 × 0.9 cm)
See more items in
Anacostia Community Museum Collection
Data Source
Anacostia Community Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
acm_1991.0076.0119