In scoring music for his famous jazz orchestra, Duke Ellington wrote for individuals, not instruments. This “Mood Indigo” page features music for his trombone section: Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton, Lawrence Brown and Juan Tizol.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
This National Broadcasting Company microphone was used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to broadcast radio addresses, known as “fireside chats.” Through times of crisis such as the Great Depression and World War II, Roosevelt broadcast more than 30 fireside chats between 1933 and 1944 and developed an intimate, reassuring rapport with the American people that helped build confidence in his leadership. In his first broadcast on March 12, 1933, Roosevelt explained his plan to deal with the banking crisis and asked for the public’s support, concluding, “Together we cannot fail.”
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Near the end of his life, Thomas Jefferson clipped verses from the New Testament to create this work: “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth.” Reflecting Jefferson’s deist beliefs, the book excludes references to miracles and focuses on the moral teachings of Jesus.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
This key, believed to be from the first American telegraph line, was built by Alfred Vail as an improvement on Samuel Morse’s original transmitter. Vail helped Morse develop a practical system for sending and receiving coded electrical signals over a wire, which was successfully demonstrated in 1844.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Elias Howe is credited by many with developing the first practical sewing machine in 1846, but initially it was ignored by the public. Isaac Singer patented some improvements to the sewing machine, but his big contribution was marketing. Through staged competitions and the use of installment credit plans, Singer largely created consumer demand for sewing machines.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Silver pins, representing a cell door with a heart-shaped padlock, were given by the National Woman’s Party to members who had been “jailed for freedom.”
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Celebrated in the month before Lent, Carnival in Puerto Rico dates back to the mid-18th century and involves revelry, music, masks and costumes. This mask was made by Miguel Caraballo of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Modern-jazz virtuoso Dizzy Gillespie played this customized King “Silver Flair” trumpet from 1972 to 1985. He adopted the signature angled design in 1954, after someone accidentally bent his horn and he discovered he liked the sound that resulted.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
The Museum’s holding of about 10,000 patent models (originally submitted to the Patent Office in the 19th century) are a prized treasure of the collection. William Whiteley of Springfield, Ohio, submitted this unusually decorative model along with his patent application.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Unlike earlier cameras that used a glass-plate negative for each exposure, this original Kodak camera, introduced by George Eastman, came preloaded with a 100-exposure roll of flexible film. After finishing the roll, the consumer mailed the camera back to the factory to have the prints made.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
R2-D2 and C-3PO from "Return of the Jedi," about 1982
Created by “Star Wars” filmmaker George Lucas, these two “droids” are among the most famous of all science-fiction robots. The little R2-D2 is spunky and resourceful, while his companion, the more human-looking C-3PO, is a bit of a worrywart. Of course, both of these robots were really costumes with an actor inside.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Until Charles A. Spencer began making microscopes in Canastota, New York, in 1838, the only high-quality scientific instruments available in the United States were imported from Europe. This brass monocular microscope, equipped with a mirror to reflect light through the slide, could be used with either a compound or a simple lens.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
In designing his celebrated stained-glass pieces, Louis Comfort Tiffany often took inspiration from nature, and is a magnificent example. From the graceful bronze base molded like a stalk to the seedpod finial on top, this bamboo-style lamp conveys its organic motif through form, color, and texture. Artisans in Tiffany’s studio carefully selected each piece of greenish-yellow glass to achieve the effect of sun-dappled leaves on the illuminated shade.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Made for country music star Patsy Cline by her mother, this Western-style performance outfit features record-shaped patches stitched with the titles of Cline’s singles.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Designed for the French couture firm Pierre Balmain, the ensemble features a silk top adorned with overlapping rows of gold-painted feathers and a skirt of pleated gold lamé. Alluding to its divine qualities, Oscar de la Renta named his creation after Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
Ray Bolger wore this patchwork outfit as the Scarecrow, one of the trio of friends who accompany Dorothy to the Emerald City in “The Wizard of Oz.” Designed by Adrian, MGM’s premier costume artist, the straw-stuffed clothing fit loosely enough so that Bolger could perform his comedic dance number, “If I Only Had a Brain.” A sponge-rubber mask, resembling burlap, completed the Scarecrow’s costume. Under the hot lights on the set, the mask was stifling, and it frequently had to be replaced.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History
