Tap shoes used by Sammy Davis Jr.

Object Details

Description: This pair of child's tap shoes were used by Sammy Davis Jr. when he travelled the vaudeville circuit as part of the Will Mastin Trio. The shoes have black leather uppers and close across the center front over a split vamp with a tongue using black cotton shoelaces tipped with plastic or leather aglets. The leather outsoles are machine stitched to the midsole and the uppers as in a welted shoe. Rubber heels are adhered to the soles. Stamped onto the bottom of the heels is a "W" inside of a shield with the word "WINDSOR" below the shield. Metal toe taps are nailed to the outsole and metal heel taps are nailed to the rubber heel. The heel taps have an open area in the middle so that the manufacturer's mark can be seen on the rubber heel bottom.

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

1938

Medium: leather, rubber, cotton, and metal
Dimensions: H x W x D (Left (a) overall): 3 × 2 5/8 × 7 11/16 in. (7.6 × 6.7 × 19.5 cm); H x W x D (Right (b) overall): 2 7/8 × 2 3/4 × 7 9/16 in. (7.3 × 7 × 19.2 cm)

Place used: United States, North and Central America
Place made: Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Clothing-Costume
Exhibition: Musical Crossroads
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic: African American; Actors; Children; Clothing and dress; Tap dancing; Vaudeville

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd527a32527-c96e-4957-8c22-8c087a408c5f