US Navy dress uniform hat worn by Adm. Michelle Howard as commander
Object Details
- Caption
- A 1982 Naval Academy graduate, Michelle Howard commanded Task Force 151 in 2009, which freed Captain Richard Phillips and other hostages from the Maersk Alabama. In 2014, she became the first female four-star admiral in the Navy, as well as the highest-ranking Black woman in the military, and was appointed vice chief of naval operations.
- Description
- A US Navy dress uniform hat (a) worn by Admiral Michelle Howard as commander with a white waterproof fabric crown and a black canvas brim, with a hat band (b) featuring a US Navy insignia pin (c). The brim of the hat is stiffened, with both sides fixed in a turned up position. The interior of the hat is lined with black waterproof plastic with the manufacturer's name "Kingform Cap / De Luxe / NEW YORK" stamped on it in gold. The sides of the crown are lined in black synthetic satin fabric. There is a size "23" tag at the interior center back and a tag at the interior proper left back with style and military regulation information.
- The hat band (b) attaches to the hat (a) with four (4) metal snaps, one at the front and back and one on each side. The band is made from black canvas trimmed on the top edge with gold braid. A length of the black canvas cut on the bias is looped around the center back portion of the band and stitched to it at the bottom edge, with the tails left dangling below the brim of the hat (a). An oak leaf and acorn design is embroidered in metallic gold thread at the center front of the band. A piece of black felt backed in leather with rounded edges protrudes from the center front top edge of the band.
- A large silver and gold metal US Navy insignia pin (c) with two screw back fasteners is attached to the black felt on the hat band (b). The eagle and shield are in silver, while the two crossed anchors are in gold.
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Admiral Michelle J. Howard, U.S. Navy
- Data Source
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Date
- 1999
- Object number
- 2014.146.1.1abc
- Manufactured by
- Kingform Cap Company, Inc., founded 1955
- Worn by
- Admiral Michelle Janine Howard, American, born 1960
- Subject of
- United States Navy, American, founded 1775
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
- Type
- hats
- dress uniforms
- insignias
- Medium
- a: plastic, cotton canvas, synthetic fiber, and metal;
- b: cotton canvas and metal;
- c: metal
- Dimensions
- H x W x D ((a) on form): 8 1/2 × 9 7/8 × 7 in. (21.6 × 25.1 × 17.8 cm)
- H x W x D ((b) on hat): 3 3/4 × 6 1/4 × 8 1/4 in. (9.5 × 15.9 × 21 cm)
- H x W x D (c): 2 1/2 × 2 3/4 × 5/8 in. (6.4 × 7 × 1.6 cm)
- See more items in
- National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
- Classification
- Clothing - Military Uniforms
- Exhibition
- Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
- On View
- NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
- Topic
- African American
- Clothing and dress
- Military
- Women
- Record ID
- nmaahc_2014.146.1.1abc
