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- "Family Meditation," Fan Advertising Williams & Williams Funeral Home, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1960 - Worshipers in the mid-1900s used inexpensive, handheld fans to keep cool in churches without air conditioning--especially in the American South. Local funeral homes often supplied congregations with these fans. One side usually depicted biblical scenes, devotional settings, or even famous individuals. On the other side, the businesses listed vital services and contact information.

- circa 1960
- Collections - Artifact
"Family Meditation," Fan Advertising Williams & Williams Funeral Home, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1960
Worshipers in the mid-1900s used inexpensive, handheld fans to keep cool in churches without air conditioning--especially in the American South. Local funeral homes often supplied congregations with these fans. One side usually depicted biblical scenes, devotional settings, or even famous individuals. On the other side, the businesses listed vital services and contact information.
- Fan from Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church, circa 1960 - Worshipers in the mid-1900s used inexpensive, handheld fans to keep cool in churches without air conditioning--especially in the American South. Local funeral homes often supplied congregations with these fans. One side usually depicted biblical scenes, devotional settings, or even famous individuals. On the other side, the businesses listed vital services and contact information.

- circa 1960
- Collections - Artifact
Fan from Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church, circa 1960
Worshipers in the mid-1900s used inexpensive, handheld fans to keep cool in churches without air conditioning--especially in the American South. Local funeral homes often supplied congregations with these fans. One side usually depicted biblical scenes, devotional settings, or even famous individuals. On the other side, the businesses listed vital services and contact information.
- Handheld Advertising Fan Showing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968-1970 -

- 1968-1970
- Collections - Artifact
Handheld Advertising Fan Showing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968-1970
- "Booker T. Washington" Fan Advertising Jacobs Brothers Funeral Home, circa 1955 - By the twentieth century, fans could be inexpensively produced as souvenirs or advertisements. Funeral homes were among the businesses that commonly distributed advertising fans, often to local churches. This example advertises services offered by the Jacobs Brothers Funeral Home in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Jacobs brothers were active in nearby African-American congregations whose members likely identified with Booker T. Washington, featured on the front.

- circa 1955
- Collections - Artifact
"Booker T. Washington" Fan Advertising Jacobs Brothers Funeral Home, circa 1955
By the twentieth century, fans could be inexpensively produced as souvenirs or advertisements. Funeral homes were among the businesses that commonly distributed advertising fans, often to local churches. This example advertises services offered by the Jacobs Brothers Funeral Home in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Jacobs brothers were active in nearby African-American congregations whose members likely identified with Booker T. Washington, featured on the front.
- Fan from Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church, circa 1960 - Worshipers in the mid-1900s used inexpensive, handheld fans to keep cool in churches without air conditioning--especially in the American South. Local funeral homes often supplied congregations with these fans. One side usually depicted biblical scenes, devotional settings, or even famous individuals. On the other side, the businesses listed vital services and contact information.

- circa 1960
- Collections - Artifact
Fan from Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church, circa 1960
Worshipers in the mid-1900s used inexpensive, handheld fans to keep cool in churches without air conditioning--especially in the American South. Local funeral homes often supplied congregations with these fans. One side usually depicted biblical scenes, devotional settings, or even famous individuals. On the other side, the businesses listed vital services and contact information.