Pith helmet hat from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity

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 Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity pressed canvas pith helmet, resembling a Hawley-style American sun helmet. The helmet is khaki colored, has a brown, faux, leather chinstrap and three grommets, or ventilation holes, on the left and right sides. The hat has a molded, pointed top with six molded spokes running from the pointed crown. It has molded faux puggaree folds running along the hatband which overlays into a V-shape at the front and back of the helmet. A large, white diamond has been hand painted on the front panel of the band. The Greek letters, kappa alpha psi [???], have been hand painted in red over the diamond, and a set of red, wavy decorations on either side of the letters.

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