US Marine Corps sword presented to 2nd Lt. Wendell C. Chinn
date: label: Date
content: before 1972
name: label: Issued by
content: Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, American, founded 1924
label: Received by
content: Capt. Wendell C. Chinn Sr., American
label: Subject of
content: Prairie View A&M University, American, founded 1876
label: Subject of
content: United States Marine Corps, American, founded 1775
notes: label: Caption
content: Captain Wendell Chinn, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired) (1949- ) graduated from Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1972 as a part of the first four-year, all-Black Naval Reserves Officers Training Corps (NROTC) graduating class. Graduating with honors as the Battalion Commander of the NROTC, Chinn was awarded this Marine Corps Sword as the top midshipman of his class. After graduation, Chinn accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marines. Chinn served in the Marine Corps for over 9 years and earned two Presidential Unit Citations before retiring in 1981 at the rank of Captain.
label: Description
content: A US Marine Corps Sword (a), with scabbard (b) and sword sheath cover (c) (leather and cotton), presented to then 2nd Lt Wendell C. Chinn Sr., upon graduation from Prairie View A&M University in 1972. The sword is etched with a pattern and the text “United State Marines” and“Wendell C. Chinn” on the stainless steel blade. Etched on tip of blade is “50th Anniversary / PVAMU NROTC #1 of 5”. The sword has an ivory-colored hilt with gold metal accents and a gold metal rain-guard. The black corded tassel hangs from the curved pommel. The scabbard is also stainless steel with gold metal accents and chape. The sword and scabbard are housed in a black case with attached black handle and gold metal clasp.
place: label: Place used
content: Prairie View, Waller County, Texas, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
label: Topic
content: Military
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Weapons and Ammunition
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Captain Wendell C. Chinn, Sr., USMC (Ret.)
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2019.79abc
objectType: label: Type
content: swords
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: stainless steel with leather and cotton
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (2019.79a (sword)): 36 7/16 × 5 1/8 × 1 3/16 in. (92.5 × 13 × 3 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (2019.79b (scabbard )): 33 1/16 × 2 3/16 × 3/8 in. (84 × 5.5 × 1 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (2019.79ab (sword in scabbard )): 38 9/16 × 5 1/2 × 1 3/16 in. (98 × 14 × 3 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (2019.79c (case)): 41 5/16 × 7 11/16 × 1 3/16 in. (105 × 19.5 × 3 cm)