Race and Ethnicity in Advertising

T. Burns Collection of Racial Stereotypes, 1880s-1983

This collection includes advertisements, games, sheet music, illustrations, children’s books and other caricatures of African Americans mainly from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. A significant number of illustrations advertising products from the Barker’s company are included. Illustrations in this collection were largely excerpted from news or literature magazines such as Harper’s Weekly, Frank Leslie’s Popular Magazine, and Puck magazine. The collection also includes a considerable collection of Aunt Jemima and Cream of Wheat advertisements pulled from popular women’s magazines from the early 1900’s such as Modern Priscilla and Needlecraft. Also included are additional advertisements from companies such as GoldDust, Fairbanks, Old Virginny and Dixie Boy. Many items depict African Americans in rural or Southern settings. Boxes 1, 2, and 4 contain the majority of relevant print advertisements. Box 3 contains artifacts such as a paper bag for charcoal, a placemat depicting an African American family, and a trouser press. This collection was acquired as part of the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture.

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