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Museum object · Clothing - Fashion and Historical

Blue felt bag belonging to Etta Moten Barnett

1950-2004

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
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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.

This is a navy blue felt purse belonging to Etta Moten Barnett. It is an oblong-shaped bag with an oval bottom and a straight top with a hinged frame opening. The opening frame is made of gold colored metal. There is a small half-oval shaped flange in the center of the frame that lifts to release the latch. The purse has a short handle made of matching fabric attached to the purse by two gold-colored rings. On the exterior of the bag is a fold of navy blue felt cloth that covers the side of the purse but is cut away in the center into a point, exposing the underlayer of fabric. The interior of the bag is lined in red leather. There is a white tag with red text sewn to the interior hem that reads “WILSHIRE / REG. / ORIGINAL.”

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: A2022.13.1.78.1

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