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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, photography credit Joel Benjamin
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, photography credit Joel Benjamin
Cinch Bag
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, photography credit Joel Benjamin
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Cinch Bag

Artifact IDMO 63.483.2
Object Type Bag, Tote
Date 1900-1962
Date Presented4/1962
Gifter
Place MadeNigeria, Africa
Medium Leather
DimensionsOverall H 13 in (33 cm )
Physical DescriptionTan leather bag with 4 side pockets and drawstring closure. This bag is shaped like a sack. Circular motifs in green, yellow, red, white and brown are appliqued to the leather on each of the side pockets.
Historical NotePresident Kennedy received this leather bag from Premier Samuel L. Akintola of the Western Region of Nigeria in April 1962. The country had achieved independence from Great Britain two years earlier.
Premier Samuel Ládòkè Akíntọ́lá presented this traditional handmade leather cinch bag to President John F. Kennedy during his historic early 1960s diplomatic tour. Northern and Western Nigeria have a centuries-old global reputation for premium leather production, and this finely stitched piece served as a practical visual aid of the region's manufacturing capabilities. Rather than relying solely on economic data, Akintola utilized this tactile gift as a sophisticated tool of diplomacy. By presenting a functional carrying pouch, he physically showcased Nigeria's rich artisan wealth and industrial potential while symbolically offering a vessel of shared goodwill, mutual respect, and an invitation for bilateral trade partnerships.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift from a foreign official to the President and First Lady received through the Executive office during the Kennedy Administration and transferred to the General Service Administration where it was held until donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from Heads of State (National Archives Identifier 1677008)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view