"Mammy"

ca. 1912

Metal

Overall: 7 in. × 5 1/4 in. (17.8 × 13.3 cm)

Gift of Bella C. Landauer

2002.1.2258

The American Tobacco Company issued a set of six "Roly Poly" tobacco tins in 1912. Named for their bulbous shape, each tin depicted a common stereotype of the era: Mammy, Singing Waiter, Satisfied Customer, Dutchman, Scotland Yard, and Storekeeper. Four different brands of tobacco were distributed in these tins: Mayo's, Dixie Queen, Red Indian, and U.S. Marine, with each tin holding approximately a pound of tobacco. Objects in the New-York Historical Society’s collections reflect the time in which they were produced. Although collection items that depict or reflect hate, racism, discrimination, or stereotypes may be offensive and disturbing, we continue to make them available to visitors for the historical insights they provide into the realities of daily life in New York and the nation.

Description"Roly Poly" tobacco tin in the shape of a rotund African American woman, with lithographed printing of a red kerchief and white with red polka dots dress on the base and on the cap a white head cloth around a smiling face smoking a pipe. On the back is an advertisment for "Mayo's Cut Plug" tobacco. The bottom reads "This 'Brownie' tin comes in different designs/ Get a Collection/ This brand of tobacco has been before the public for/ a great number of years-in quality it stands unsurpassed." See similar items 2002.1.478 and .479.

ClassificationsLANDAUER COLLECTION OF BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING EPHEMERA

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