Photographic postcard of J. J. Cotten Barbershop
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1910
name: label: Photograph by
content: Unidentified
label: Subject of
content: J. J. Cotten, American
label: Subject of
content: Unidentified Man or Men
notes: label: Description
content: A black-and-white photograph postcard of a thriving barbershop in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, circa 1910. Captured in the midst of various grooming services, this rare portrait shows a small but full shop; men being shaved, one man having his shoes shined, two men standing at a glad counter, and several other men seated or standing – and all looking towards the camera. Barbershops played a vital role in the cultural and economic development of African American communities. It was a space where African American men interacted with each other, regardless of age, class, education, occupation, etc., serving as the backbone of many black communities and their role of strengthening black male identity in America was vital.
label: Description
content: At the bottom of left of the postcard picture, in dark ink, is the inscription: [JJ Cotten Shop / Okl.]. According to Cowan’s Auctions, “census records and city directories list a Jessie J. Cotton who operated a barbershop that was located in Oklahoma City.”
place: label: Place captured
content: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: American West
label: Topic
content: Barbershops
label: Topic
content: Black Enterprise
label: Topic
content: Business
label: Topic
content: Communities
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: Photography
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Photographs and Still Images
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2020.10.12
objectType: label: Type
content: portraits
label: Type
content: photographic postcards
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Public domain
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: ink on wove paper
label: Dimensions
content: H x W: 3 3/8 × 5 7/16 in. (8.6 × 13.8 cm)