Duke Ellington celebrates 25th anniversary in show business, c. 1952

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.

This black and white photograph depicts Duke Ellington sitting behind a table set with flowers and tall candles. Wearing a dark suit and tie over a gray shirt, he is surrounded by a crowd of people; seated to his left is a woman in a dotted dress, smoking a cigarette. Another woman, only partially visible, is seated on his right. In the foreground is a woman in profile, wearing her hair in a ponytail. On the wall over Duke Ellington's head is a sign that reads "Welcome the DUKE/ of ELLINGTON/ on His 25th Year/ in/ music." On the back of the photograph is a green sticker with handwritten text "#8."

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