Cultures & Communities - Overview
Furniture, cooking wares, clothing, works of art, and many other kinds of artifacts are part of what knit people into communities and cultures. The Museum’s collections feature artifacts from European Americans, Latinos, Arab Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, African Americans, Gypsies, Jews, and Christians, both Catholics and Protestants. The objects range from ceramic face jugs made by enslaved African Americans in South Carolina to graduation robes and wedding gowns. The holdings also include artifacts associated with education, such as teaching equipment, textbooks, and two complete schoolrooms. Uniforms, insignia, and other objects represent a wide variety of civic and voluntary organizations, including youth and fraternal groups, scouting, police forces, and firefighters.
"Cultures & Communities - Overview" showing 81 items.
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Allegheny Parade Hat
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This hat dates to the first half of the 19th century from Allegheny, Pennsylvania. The hat has been painted red, and bears the text “ALLEGHENY” in gold above a United States shield. The date “1802” is painted in gold on the back of the hat, and the crown of the hat has a star shaped designed with the letter “A” in the center. The Allegheny Fire Company of Allegheny, Pennsylvania was founded in 1802 and operated until 1870, when it was absorbed by the municipal fire department.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- in use
- 1802-1870
- company which the hat's owner belonged to
- Allegheny Engine Co.
- owner
- Neel, Harry
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0026
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0026
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Citizen Fire Company Parade Hat
- Description
- In the early 1800s, classical images associated with Greece and Rome became popular in America. In art and architecture, Americans sought to link their young nation to these republics of antiquity. The Roman goddess Libertas, representing personal sovereignty, was changed into Lady Liberty and adopted as an American symbol. The Citizen Fire Company chose Liberty as their emblem at its founding in 1836. Depicted on this parade hat, the female figure holds an American shield in one hand representing strength and protection. The red liberty cap atop a pole in Liberty's other hand was an internationally known symbol of the American Revolution that was also adopted from the Roman Empire.
- Date made
- c.1840-1860
- associated
- Citizen Fire Company #3
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0027
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0027
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Columbia Parade Hat
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This hat was used in the eastern United States during the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted dark brown overall, with an image of a spread-winged eagle grasping an anchor in its claws. A banner arches over the eagle’s head that reads “Columbia.” The company’s initials “CEC” (Columbia Engine Company) are painted in gold calligraphic script on the back of the hat. The crown of the hat features the owner’s initials “S.H.R.” painted in gold inside a gold shield. The bald eagle was adopted by the Continental Congress as the national symbol of the United States in 1782. As a patriotic symbol of liberty and freedom, the eagle was a frequently used icon among early American volunteer fire departments. The anchor in the eagle’s claw represents hope and safety.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1810-1860
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0029
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0029
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Columbia Hose Company Fire Hat
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This hat was used in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted light blue, with an image of a spread-winged eagle in front of a sunburst gripping a red banner in its talons that reads “COLUMBIA HOSE COMPANY” in gold. The company’s initials “CHC” (Columbia Hose Company) are painted in gold calligraphic script on the back of the hat. The owner’s initials “J.M.I.” are painted in gold on the crown of the hat. The Columbia Hose Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was founded in 1806, on the block of 7th and Cherry Streets. The bald eagle was adopted by the Continental Congress as the national symbol of the United States in 1782 and was a frequently used icon among early American volunteer fire departments.
- date made
- 1810-1860
- associated
- Columbia Hose Company
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0030
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0030
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Decatur Fire Engine Company Fire Hat
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This hat was used in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the first half of the 19th century. The hat has been painted red with a portrait of Commodore Stephen Decatur framed in gold. American flags and black banners with gold trim surround the portrait. The banners bear the gold text “DECATUR/F.E. CO.” The back of the hat features a gold painted image of an early fire hydrant with gushing hose attached, flanked by the letters “FA”. This was the logo of the Fire Association of Philadelphia, an insurance company founded by a group of eleven volunteer engine companies and five volunteer hose companies in 1817. The top of the hat bears the owner’s initials “N.C.” painted in gold. The engine company was founded in 1803 in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia. Originally known as Good Will, the company soon renamed itself after Stephen Decatur, the famous naval officer and hero of the War of 1812, whose father had resided in Frankford.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1810-1860
- depicted
- Decatur, Stephen
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0031
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0031
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Diligent Hose Company Fire Hat
- Description
- The Diligent Hose Company chose a beehive as their primary icon. It has been a symbol of industry, hard work, and cooperation used by many different organizations. The beehive, along with their name of Diligent, implies that the members persistently worked together to serve the community in their role as firemen. Although the beehive and five-pointed star are also Masonic symbols, that does not necessarily link company members to the society. Many Masonic emblems were well known and used by other organizations around the time of the Revolution. A fire company and a Masonic lodge were similar in their male-only, predominantly artisan membership.
- Date made
- 1820-1860
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0032
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0032
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Eagle Fire Company Fire Hat
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This pressed felt fire hat was used in the eastern United States during the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted black overall, with the text “Eagle Fire/Co.” in gold paint with red shadowing on the front. The back of the hat features a yellow image of a wooden fire hydrant flanked by the date “1821.” The crown of the hat has a shield with red and white stripes and the initials “A.C.” This hat likely belonged to a member of the Eagle Fire Company of Trenton, New Jersey that was founded in 1821.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1820-1860
- associated
- Eagle Fire Company
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0033
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0033
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fire Hat, "Eagle Hose Company"
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This hat was used in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted black, with a painted image on the front of the hat depicting a spread-winged eagle in front of a sunburst gripping a red banner in its talon that reads “EAGLE HOSE COMPANY” painted in gold. The company’s initials “EHC” (Eagle Hose Company) are painted in gold calligraphic script on the back of the hat. The owner’s initials “JW” are encircled by a golden wreath on the crown of the hat. The Eagle Hose Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was founded in 1851. The imagery on this hat is very similar to other fire hats in the collection—2005.0233.0029 and 2005.0233.0030—pointing to a common artist or local artistic style. The bald eagle was adopted by the Continental Congress as the national symbol of the United States in 1782. As a patriotic symbol of liberty and freedom, the eagle was a frequently used icon among early American volunteer fire departments.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1850-1860
- associated
- Eagle Hose Company
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0034
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0034
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Eagle Fire Company Fire Hat
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This fire hat was used in Trenton, New Jersey during the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted black overall, with the text “Eagle Fire/Co.” in gold paint with red shadowing on the front of the hat. The back of the hat features a yellow image of a wooden fire hydrant flanked by the date “1821.” The crown of the hat has the owner’s initials “W.D.L.” in gold. This hat likely belonged to a member of the Eagle Fire Company of Trenton, New Jersey that was founded in 1821.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1835-1845
- associated
- Eagle Fire Company
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0035
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0035
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fairmount Fire Company Fire Hat
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This fire hat was used in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted red overall, with a central image of a fountain with a statue of a woman and long-necked bird in an oval frame flanked by aqua-colored banners with the gold text “Fair Mount.” William Rush created this statue “Nymph and Bittern” to commemorate the completion of the Centre Square Water Works, providing Philadelphia with public water that was a boon to the city’s fire fighters. The back of the hat features an image of a yellow fire hydrant on a brown background inside a golden oval, flanked by the letters “FA” in gold. This was the logo of the Fire Association of Philadelphia, an insurance company founded by a group of eleven volunteer engine companies and five volunteer hose companies in 1817, of which Fairmount was a member. The Fairmount Fire Company was founded in 1823 and operated in the Spring Garden area of Philadelphia.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1820-1860
- maker
- Shotwell & Garden
- original artist
- Rush, William
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0036
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0036
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center