Religion

One hallmark of the American experience captured in the Museum's collections is the nation's broad diversity of religious faiths. Artifacts range from Thomas Jefferson's Bible to a huge "Sunstone" sculpture carved for a Mormon temple in Illinois in 1844 to a household shrine from the home of a Pueblo Indian in the 1990s. Furniture, musical instruments, clothing, cooking ware, and thousands of prints and figures in the collections have all played roles in the religious lives of Americans. The most comprehensive collections include artifacts from Jewish and Christian European Americans, Catholic Latinos, Protestant Arab Americans, Buddhist and Christian Asian Pacific Americans, and Protestant African Americans. One notable group is the Vidal Collection of carved figures known as santos and other folk religious material from the practice of Santeria in Puerto Rico.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940-12
date made
1940
publisher; distributor
Radio City Music Hall
maker
Radio City Music Hall
ID Number
1982.0745.18
accession number
1982.0745
catalog number
1982.0745.18
This sheet music for the song "The Lord Is My Shepherd (23rd Psalm)" was written and composed by John B. Marsh and published by the William. A. Pond and Co. of New York, New York in 1898.
Description
This sheet music for the song "The Lord Is My Shepherd (23rd Psalm)" was written and composed by John B. Marsh and published by the William. A. Pond and Co. of New York, New York in 1898. This cover is plain paper with black text, but the phrase “The Lord” is underlined by the image of a shepherd’s staff. The contralto solo was written with affectionate regard to Mr. Warren Pond.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1898
composer
Marsh, John B.
publisher
William A. Pond & Co.
ID Number
1982.0439.35
accession number
1982.0439
catalog number
1982.0439.35
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1988.0616.37
catalog number
1988.0616.37
accession number
1988.0616
This sheet music for the song "The Shepherd Boy" was written and composed by G. D. Wilson. The song was published by the Armstrong Music Co. of New York, New York in 1903.
Description
This sheet music for the song "The Shepherd Boy" was written and composed by G. D. Wilson. The song was published by the Armstrong Music Co. of New York, New York in 1903. The cover features an illustration of a shepherd boy sitting on rocks among sheep and doing his best to woo a girl.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1903
composer
Wilson, G. D.
publisher
Armstrong Music Publishing Company
ID Number
1982.0439.30
accession number
1982.0439
catalog number
1982.0439.30
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1988.0043.001
accession number
1988.0043
catalog number
1988.0043.001
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1913
associated institution
Ku Klux Klan
composer
De Ree, Alira
publisher
Rodeheaver, Homer
maker
Rodeheaver, Homer
ID Number
1986.0309.07
accession number
1986.0309
catalog number
1986.0309.07
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1874
graphic artist
Harper & Brothers
ID Number
1985.0303.03
accession number
1985.0303
catalog number
1985.0303.03
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1855 - 1885
ID Number
DL.022467.0001C
catalog number
022467.0001C
accession number
22467
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date published
1836
ID Number
DL.033664
catalog number
033664
accession number
70138
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date published
1845
inscribed date
1847-05-20
publisher
D. Appleton and Company
ID Number
DL.033665
catalog number
033665
accession number
70138
Plain-rim circular plate with flat well; no foot ring. Underside has three faint, partial stamps, a touch or quality mark of an undecipherable crowned figure, "[?]S.(T?)[?]" in a curved reserve, and a small pseudo hallmark of "SE" with two pellets below, all in a shaped shield.
Description
Plain-rim circular plate with flat well; no foot ring. Underside has three faint, partial stamps, a touch or quality mark of an undecipherable crowned figure, "[?]S.(T?)[?]" in a curved reserve, and a small pseudo hallmark of "SE" with two pellets below, all in a shaped shield. One of two plates, DL*388311A-B.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1750 - 1780
ID Number
DL.388311B
catalog number
388311B
accession number
182022
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850 - 1875
ID Number
DL.298065.0169
catalog number
298065.0169
accession number
298065
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date "Book of Common Prayer" published
1868
date "Hymnal" published
1878
presentation date
1879-04-21
confirmation date of T. B. M. Mason
1877-01-21
printer
Eyre and Spottiswoode
ID Number
DL.070138.0064
catalog number
70138.0064
accession number
70138
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1798
Associated Date
1817-03-30
1898
ID Number
DL.61.0382
catalog number
61.0382
accession number
232677
Handleless inverted bell-shaped cup with single-reeded everted rim on flared pedestal base with incised ball knop and circular foot with flat outside edge; incised bands around lower part of bowl, top and bottom of stem and foot. No marks.
Description
Handleless inverted bell-shaped cup with single-reeded everted rim on flared pedestal base with incised ball knop and circular foot with flat outside edge; incised bands around lower part of bowl, top and bottom of stem and foot. No marks. One of a pair, DL*388310B-DL*388310C; spacing of their incised bands differs.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1830
ID Number
DL.388310B
catalog number
388310B
accession number
182022
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date book published
1886
date corner covers made
1887
inscribed date
1888-04-01
printer
Eyre and Spottiswoode
maker
Gorham Manufacturing Company
ID Number
DL.033670B
catalog number
33670B
accession number
70138
This Bible is one of 13 contained in the Copp Collection. The book is undated with no publisher noted.The Copp Collection contains about 150 books of early American imprint and shows a wide range of reading matter typical of a New England Puritan family living in a port town.
Description
This Bible is one of 13 contained in the Copp Collection. The book is undated with no publisher noted.
The Copp Collection contains about 150 books of early American imprint and shows a wide range of reading matter typical of a New England Puritan family living in a port town. Literacy was expected of many New Englanders, as Puritan doctrine required everyone to read the Bible. The abundance of multiple Bibles, psalms, hymnodies, sermons, and morality tales reflects the Copp’s religious beliefs. Other highlights of the library include the works of Shakespeare, almanacs, historical and political texts, and travel narratives.
The Copp Collection contains a variety of household objects that the Copp family of Connecticut used from around 1700 until the mid-1800s. Part of the Puritan Great Migration from England to Boston, the family eventually made their home in New London County, Connecticut, where their textiles, clothes, utensils, ceramics, books, bibles, and letters provide a vivid picture of daily life. More of the collection from the Division of Home and Community Life can be viewed by searching accession number 28810.
Location
Currently not on view
users
Copp Family
ID Number
DL.006864
catalog number
006864
accession number
28810
Footed circular bowl with flared sides and single-reeded, everted rim on a circular, ogee-molded pedestal base with tall, incurved stem. Plain exterior. No marks.Currently not on view
Description
Footed circular bowl with flared sides and single-reeded, everted rim on a circular, ogee-molded pedestal base with tall, incurved stem. Plain exterior. No marks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1830
ID Number
DL.388310A
catalog number
388310A
accession number
182022
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
owner
Copp Family
ID Number
DL.006791.03.028
catalog number
6791.03.028
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
publisher
Force
ID Number
GA.15745.23
catalog number
15745.23
accession number
94830
Handleless inverted bell-shaped cup with single-reeded everted rim on flared pedestal base with incised ball knop and circular foot with flat outside edge; incised bands around lower part of bowl, top and bottom of stem, and foot. No marks.
Description
Handleless inverted bell-shaped cup with single-reeded everted rim on flared pedestal base with incised ball knop and circular foot with flat outside edge; incised bands around lower part of bowl, top and bottom of stem, and foot. No marks. One of a pair, DL*388310B-DL*388310C; spacing of their incised bands differs.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1830
ID Number
DL.388310C
catalog number
388310C
accession number
182022
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date published
1818
1822
ID Number
DL.033667
catalog number
033667
accession number
70138
This Bible is one of 13 contained in the Copp Collection. The book is undated with no publisher noted.The Copp Collection contains about 150 books of early American imprint and shows a wide range of reading matter typical of a New England Puritan family living in a port town.
Description
This Bible is one of 13 contained in the Copp Collection. The book is undated with no publisher noted.
The Copp Collection contains about 150 books of early American imprint and shows a wide range of reading matter typical of a New England Puritan family living in a port town. Literacy was expected of many New Englanders, as Puritan doctrine required everyone to read the Bible. The abundance of multiple Bibles, psalms, hymnodies, sermons, and morality tales reflects the Copp’s religious beliefs. Other highlights of the library include the works of Shakespeare, almanacs, historical and political texts, and travel narratives.
The Copp Collection contains a variety of household objects that the Copp family of Connecticut used from around 1700 until the mid-1800s. Part of the Puritan Great Migration from England to Boston, the family eventually made their home in New London County, Connecticut, where their textiles, clothes, utensils, ceramics, books, bibles, and letters provide a vivid picture of daily life. More of the collection from the Division of Home and Community Life can be viewed by searching accession number 28810.
Location
Currently not on view
Currently not on view (bookmark)
date made
1804
owner; user
Copp, Jr., Samuel
owner
Copp Family
ID Number
DL.006861.05
catalog number
6861.05
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date published
1844
inscribed date
1846-12-25
ID Number
DL.59.0303
catalog number
59.0303
accession number
222949

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