Funeral fan with an image of Martin Luther King Jr.

Images(2)

Funeral fan with an image of Martin Luther King Jr.

Object number2001.056.0002

Date1968

ClassificationsArtifacts

Creator Robbins Funeral Home

ObjectFan

Credit LineThe Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Collection

MediumPaper, Wood, Metal

Dimensions11 7/8 × 7 1/2 in. (30.2 × 19.1 cm)

Terms

Collections

Civil Rights Movement

DescriptionHand-held fan featuring a color reproduction of a painting of Martin Luther King Jr. The fan is made of a piece of cardstock that has been attached to a thin, wooden handle with two metal staples. "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr" is printed across the bottom of the image, inside a white banner. Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The back of the fan is printed with the following information: "Compliments of Robbins Funeral Home Benton Harbor, Mich." Printed in black on the lower right front of the fan is the following information: "8747 (c) A. Scheer Made in U S A"

Curatorial Commentary

This funeral fan was displayed in the lobby of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza for one year as part of the "Loss and Renewal: Transforming Tragic Sites" exhibit. This special display, created in the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, explored how several sites of tragedy - including the Lorraine Motel, site of the 1968 King assassination in Memphis - were transformed into reflective spaces that help individuals contemplate the meaning of an event. The Lorraine Motel is today the National Civil Rights Museum. - Stephen Fagin, Curator