
What a Dream Can Do
Building a Collection, Preserving a Legacy
Rizzoli International Publications (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 8. September 2026
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-8478-7037-0 (ISBN)
Description
At the National Museum of African American History and Culture s dedication ceremony in 2016, civil rights activist and venerated congressman John Lewis proclaimed, 'Oh, say! What a dream can do!' This volume, published to celebrate the Museum s tenth anniversary, captures that vision through stories told by those collecting and caring for the objects. From the historically profound, such as the miraculous recovery and resurrection of a WWII era plane used to train Tuskegee Airmen; to the searingly poignant personal keepsakes belonging to the famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman, whose family carefully preserved them for generations. The breadth of the collection is extraordinary, spanning visual art, photography, film, and historical artifacts from the seventeenth century to the present. Each object carries its own story and distinctive journey, reflecting the collaboration, care, and commitment required to bring this national museum to life. Other incredible highlights include the Johnson Publishing Company s famed Ebony Test Kitchen, Chuck Berry s red Cadillac, and Radio Raheem s iconic boombox from Spike Lee s 1989 film Do the Right Thing. These powerful stories of community, connection, resilience, and remembrance reflect the nation s story and demonstrate, in enduring and profound ways, what a dream can do.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Illustrations
300 COLOR AND B/W PHOTOGRAPHS
Dimensions
Height: 298 mm
Width: 235 mm
Weight
567 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8478-7037-0 (9780847870370)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian. Michele Gates Moresi is assistant director for collections at NMAAHC. Mary Elliott, Ariana Curtis, Dwan Reece, and Paul Gardullo are curators at NMAAHC.