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Museum object · Clothing - Fashion and Historical

Red suit jacket 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 plaid red jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles. The single-breasted jacket is made from red and tan wool blend fabric. There is a single notched collar, and the jacket closes down the center front with two .75” maroon plastic buttons on the proper right and corresponding buttonholes on the proper left side. The bottom button the proper right is missing. Each sleeve has padding at the shoulder and is made from two panels of fabric. There’s a half- cuff, roughly six inches long, machine sewn to each sleeve end. At the chest proper left chest is a welted pocket, and at the waist, are two pockets – one at each side, with a 4” wide flap, that secures with a maroon .75” wide plastic button. The button at the proper right waist pocket is missing and cream-colored silk blend fabric lines the underside each pocket flap.

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: 2024.60.6

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