Photograph of Dinah Washington signing autographs in Bill Hawkins’ Record Studio

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 black-and-white photograph of Dinah Washington taken inside the Bill Hawkins recording studio. Washington is depicted left of center, seated behind a counter, surrounded by a large crowd of mostly teenagers reaching towards her. She is wearing a black, button down, short sleeve garment. Her eyes are closed and she is smiling at the crowd. She is holding up a record in a sleeve with her proper left hand. A boy standing next to her is grabbing the record from her hands. Behind Washington is a two-tone wall. A rectangular mirror is hanging behind her to her left, and above her head, are two signs posted on the wall. The first sign is white with black text that reads [Inquire Inside About / These FREE GIFTS / Donated By The ALDRICH HOWEY CO.] and a black sign with white text below that reads “Please Check! / Change & Records / NO / EXCHANGES].

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