Young African American man with mustache wearing morning dress (top hat, black tailcoat and matching vest, high collar white shirt, gray trousers). Museum text is from the RESPECTABILITY part of #Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition at the Met: Sociologist, historian, and Pan-Africanist W. E. B. Du Bois was the first Black man to earn a PhD from Harvard University and one of the best-dressed men in turn-of-the- century America.
8 May 1940 My Dear Mr. Jones: I want you to make me two summer suits to be ready for fitting Wednesday, June twelfth, and finished for wearing Saturday, June fifteenth. Let me know if you can do this and what the price will be. Meantime get some sample and show then to Mrs. Du Bois. I am asking her to call on you to see them. I think I should like one suit grey and one blue unless you have something very attractive in mixed colors. Let then be of mediun summer weight. Mrs. Du Bois will decide. Very sincerely yours, W. E. B. Du Bois Mr. Lucius Jones 200 fest 145th Street New York City
W. E. B. Du Bois was the first Black man to earn a PhD from Harvard and one of the best-dressed men in turn-of-the- century America.
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Young DuBois at the 1900 Paris International Exposition.
1940 letter that DuBois wrote to his tailor in Harlem requesting two summer suits. #Superfine
