Overton's La Petite Face Powder, High-Brown
date: label: date made
content: after 1944
label: copyright date (on packaging)
content: 1944
name: label: maker
content: Overton Hygienic Mfg. Company
notes: label: Description
content: Anthony Overton, Jr., son of enslaved parents, started the Overton Hygienic Manufacturing Company in Kansas City, Missouri, in the late 1890s. His first important product was baking powder, but by 1900 he had introduced High Brown Face Powder, and a whole line of cosmetics soon followed. At a time when almost all cosmetic products were made by white concerns for white women, Overton made products designed for the skin tones of African Americans. He employed only African American men and women in the manufacturing, packaging, and selling of his products. In 1911, Overton moved his family and business to Chicago, where he led the company until his death in 1946. His son, Everett Overton (1889-1960) took over at that time, and was followed by his grandson, Anthony Overton III, who led the company until its demise in 1983.
label: Description
content: This box of High Brown Face Powder bears a 1944 copyright date. Shades of powder available at this time, as indicated on the back of the box, included Nut-Brown, Olive-Tone, High-Brown, Pink, Brunette, and Flesh-Pink.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Illinois, Chicago
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
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content: Health & Medicine
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content: Beauty and Health
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content: Beauty and Hygiene Products: Make-up
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1988.0037.21
label: catalog number
content: 1988.0037.21
label: accession number
content: 1988.0037
objectType: label: Object Name
content: cosmetic
label: Object Name
content: powder, face
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in; 1.27 cm x 6.35 cm x 6.35 cm