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Museum object · Clothing - Sports Uniforms

Boxing gloves worn by Melvin Van Peebles

Mid to late 20th century

United States, North and Central America

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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 pair of red 14 oz Champion boxing gloves (2024.60.25a, 2024.60.25b) owned by Melvin Van Peebles. The outer side of each glove is made from three panels of red leather – one 14” panel for the back of the hand, one 5.25” panel for the thumb, one 2.5” panel for the wrist area. While the underside of the glove is made from two panels of red leather one 9” panel for the underside of the palm and one 4” panel for the underside of the thumb. There is a central lace up panel with ten punched holes, edged in a white 3/8” wide leather seam tape. The bottom of the cuff is also edged in the same material. An off-white braided cotton cord with plastic end caps is partially strung through the right glove – the left glove is missing its cord.

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: 2024.60.25ab

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