Museum object · Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Donation box and lid with a carving for the "Alabama Coon Fund"
20th century
Smithsonian NMAAHC collection
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.
Explore Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture ↗
Sources & collection details
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗
Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13
Catalog reference: 2007.7.225ab
