[OCCUPATIONAL]. Pullman Porter uniform jacket and hat.

Pullman Railroad Company porter's uniform jacket. Dark blue coat with approximately 2 in. collar, 30 1/2 in. length, 21 in. sleeves, and 16 1/2 in. shoulders. Left chest pocket and right lower pocket. Lined interior body and sleeeves. Retains six metal buttons stamped "PULLMAN." Left sleeve with 3 bar insignia. Interior manufacturer label for "A.G. Meier" Uniform Company, 179 West Washington Street, Chicago. Overall good condition with light wear to exterior and interior. Collar apears to have been repaired or possibly restitched to coat. Interior coat lining lightly frayed and separating in places particularly along bottom hem.

[With:] Pullman porter's cap, approx. 8 1/2 x 7 3/4 in. and 3 1/2 in. height. Faded blue fabric cap with black visor and gold cords anchored at each end by a small "PULLMAN" button. Brass badge at center above visor reads "PULLMAN / PORTER." Interior with sweat band and label "Marshall Field / & Company / Uniform Division / Chicago." Light mothing to cap exterior and small dots of undetermined residue, interior with wear particuarly to sweat band.

[Also with:] Metal "Brakeman" pin (tarnish, wear).

Though African American men working as Pullman Porters often faced rampant discrimination, difficult working conditions, and received low pay, the position nonetheless still maintained an aura of prestige within the African American community. This was exemplified, in part, by the Porter's uniform, but came at a steep cost. An April 1915 government inquiry led by Chairman Frank P. Walsh of the Federal Industrial Commission found that porters were typically paid $27.50 a month wages, but were required to purchase their uniforms exclusively at Marshall Fields & Company at the cost of $24.50 whenever they needed a new uniform. Despite this, employment as a Pullman Porter still offered pay and working conditions which were preferable to those offered in many other jobs available to Black men while providing a stepping-stone to the middle-class for many in the African American community. This uniform may date to the 1950s-1960s as earlier records for the A.G. Meier Uniform Co. locate the business at 205 W. Monroe Street in Chicago.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Hindman strives to describe historic materials in a manner that is respectful to all communities, providing descriptive contexts for objects where possible. The nature of historical ephemera is such that some material may represent positions, language, values, and stereotypes that are not consistent with the current values and practices at Hindman.

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Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Katie Horstman

VP, Head of Department, American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

[email protected]513.666.4958

Ms. Horstman has spent over a decade specializing in historic photography and Americana at auction. During her tenure, she has overseen several notable single owner auctions, including property from the inventory of celebrated Americana and antique arms expert Norm Flayderman. During her time with the firm, she has maintained an active membership in the Daguerreian Society. Ms. Horstman holds an MA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Art History from The Ohio State University.

African Americana

[OCCUPATIONAL]. Pullman Porter uniform jacket and hat.

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