Before heading down to D.C. next week, each student from our seminar was asked to pick one object currently on view at the National Museum of African American History & Culture that they would like to see. After browsing through the online collection, I came across this lovely pair of binoculars from WWI belonging to a man named Peter L. Robinson. I was drawn to them because they seem to be a very personal artifact. Major Robinson probably had them on his person most, if not all, of the time while he served. If I were to put them under a microscope, perhaps there would still be traces of his fingerprints on them.

Who was Peter L. Robinson? What was it like to serve in the U.S. Army during WWI as a black man? What did he see when he looked through these binoculars? What did these binoculars survive through? Though it is unlikely that all of my questions will be answered, I feel that viewing these binoculars in person will give some valuable insights into what it was like for servicemen of color, who sacrificed so much for our country.

Aside from the binoculars, NMAAHC also has within its collection Major Robinson’s helmet, leather leggings, and portrait. According to the website, these object are on view as well. I am interested to see how the museum has chosen to interpret this collection of objects within its communities gallery.

This object is on view at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, third floor, 3,053. To view this object on the museum’s website, click here.