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Museum object · Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor

Donation box and lid with a carving for the "Alabama Coon Fund"

20th century

Smithsonian NMAAHC collection

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A wooden donation box (2007.7.225a) and lid (2007.7.225b), painted black. Off-white painted lettering on the front reads [ALABAMA / COON FUND] on the front of the box. The o's in "Coon" are used as eyes in a smiley face, with an exaggerated mouth drawn underneath. Engraved lettering on the back and left sides of the box read [LONSDALE / 6 1/2" x 44]. The lid features a carved figurine of a ‘coon” with its proper right hand outstretched stands on top of the box. He is wearing only painted-on brown shorts. His facial features are carved and black fibers have been adhered to his head as hair. The off-white pointed text in front of the figurine reads [DONATION!]. Under the writing is a long, thin rectangular coin slot.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2007.7.225ab

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