Explore Black History

mid 20th century

A pair of size 8.5 “Chuck Taylor All Star” Converse sneakers worn by Cab Calloway. The exterior upper shoes are primarily constructed from black, cotton canvas and white rubber. The toe boxes are rounded. The shoes are double stitched with white thread around the outline of the lace guards and ankle collars. The center lines of the heels are reinforced with an additional strip of black canvas. The lace guards feature matching metal eyelets that are strung with flat, white, string laces. Stitched to the proper right side of the left shoe, and the proper left side of the right shoe, are white circular labels with a large, blue, five-pointed star at the center. Blue text printed above and below the star read [CONVERSE] at the top, and [ALL STAR] at the bottom. Printed in white text across the center of the star is cursive text that reads [Chuck Taylor]. The heels are constructed from white rubber. Adhered to the back of each heel is a rubber label with a blue rectangular field at the center surrounded by alternating white and blue bands of varying thicknesses. At the center of the blue field is a five-pointed star with white text that reads [ALL / STAR]. White text in the top left corner and the bottom right corner read [CONVERSE]] and [Chuck / Taylor], respectively. There are two smaller five-pointed stars in the bottom left and top right corners of the label and below the bottom right star is additional small white text that reads [MADE IN U.S.A.]. The shoes’ soles are brown rubber with a diamond pattern tread. On the soles, molded into the arch, is text that reads [Converse / ALL STAR / 8 1/2] with a five pointed star below the word [Converse]. The throat is solid black and the insoles are white with black text that reads [CUSHION / HEEL] and CONVERSE / COMFORT ARCH] at the heel and arch respectively. The shoes are lined with white canvas.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

The Cabell “Cab” Calloway III Collection

Clothing - Fashion and Historical

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cabella Calloway Langsam

National Museum of African American History and Culture

A2015.273.1.18ab

sneakers

© Nike
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

canvas and rubber with cotton (textile) and metal

H x W x D (A2015.273.1.18a): 6 1/8 × 4 1/8 × 11 7/8 in. (15.5 × 10.4 × 30.2 cm)
H x W x D (A2015.273.1.18b): 6 1/8 × 4 1/8 × 11 7/8 in. (15.5 × 10.4 × 30.2 cm)

Object Name • Pair of “Chuck Taylor All Star” Converse sneakers worn by Cab Calloway

nmaahc_A2015.273.1.18ab

NMAAHC

PAIR OF “CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR” CONVERSE SNEAKERS WORN BY CAB CALLOWAY

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1950s • 1970s

Taylor, Chuck • Converse • Calloway, Cab

Clothing and dress • Conductors (Musicians) • Composers (Musicians) • Dance • Band (Music) • Jazz (Music) • Basketball • Singers (Musicians)

Images

Limited Use