Repurposed lotion tub with items belonging to Herman Wallace
date: label: Date
content: after 1972
name: label: Manufactured by
content: Unidentified
label: Owned by
content: Herman Wallace, American, 1941 - 2013
label: Subject of
content: Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, American, founded 1835
notes: label: Caption
content: Herman Wallace (1941-2013) spent 42 years in solitary confinement in Louisiana state prisons, first at the correctional facility known as Angola and later at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center. Wallace, along with fellow Angola inmates Albert Woodfox and Robert King, became the longest prisoners held in solitary confinement. Members of the Angola Chapter of the Black Panther Party (BPP), the men long insisted that they were framed and wrongfully convicted in retaliation for their support of the BPP and advocation for reform within Angola. Known as the "Angola Three," these men never gave up their fight against injustice, and became a rallying cry for prison cruelty and the need for reform.
label: Caption
content: Wallace died October 4, 2013, three days after his conviction was finally overturned and he was released from prison. Among his final words were "I’m free, I’m free."
label: Caption
content: This collection of personal belongings from Wallace’s 42 years of solitary confinement is a powerful testament to the human spirit as well as creativity and craft traditions. These objects demonstrate Wallace’s strength and resilience in maintaining his personal identity, social connections, and commitment to justice during his longtime isolation.
label: Description
content: A round, white plastic lotion tub repurposed to hold small personal items by Herman Wallace while incarcerated at Angola Prison. Inside the container are tiny objects wrapped in plastic, to include: a kite, handmade battery charger, electronic part, needle, matches, copper wire, melted paper clip, a photo, screws and springs, a ball of hair, and printed instructions of chemo dosages. The top is detachable by twist action. There are no markings or inscriptions on the container.
place: label: Place used
content: Angola, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: American South
label: Topic
content: Health
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: Prisons
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Collection title
content: Herman Wallace Archival Collection
label: Classification
content: Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
label: Classification
content: Accessories and Personal Effects
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Maria Hinds
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: A2018.36.1.1
objectType: label: Type
content: containers
label: Type
content: make-dos
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: plastic, metal, ink on paper, and hair
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 3 1/4 × 1 5/8 in. (8.2 × 4.1 cm)