Religion

Page from the Koran

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.

Date: 1850s

The Book of Common Prayer

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date published
1858
publisher
D. Appleton and Company
ID Number
ZZ.RSN82667U04

1851 Ellen Calder's Presentation Quilt

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania friends of Ellen Winebrenner Calder presented this quilt to her in 1851. It was a farewell present for Ellen, a young bride, who was accompanying her husband, Rev. James K. Calder to Fuh-Chua, China.
Description
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania friends of Ellen Winebrenner Calder presented this quilt to her in 1851. It was a farewell present for Ellen, a young bride, who was accompanying her husband, Rev. James K. Calder to Fuh-Chua, China. They worked under difficult circumstances in China for two years as missionaries for the Methodist Episcopal Church before returning to the United States. Ellen Calder, born in 1824, died in 1858 at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. She is buried in the Harrisburg Cemetery.
This cotton quilt consists of 36 blocks appliquéd with a fleur-de-lis motif often used by religious groups for presentation pieces. In the center circle of each block is penned a name and on many the place and date as well. Also penned on the quilt are a few pertinent religious inscriptions such as:
"When on the bounding wave,
Or in a Heathen land,
May God in Mercy Save,
And guide you by the hand.
And when your labors cease,
And you no more must roam,
May you return in peace,
To your beloved home."
In the mid nineteenth century the album or autograph quilt was a popular token of affection, often presented to someone leaving the community for a long journey or a new home far away.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1851
user
Calder, Ellen Winebrenner
quilters
unknown
ID Number
TE.T08114
accession number
144655
catalog number
T08114

Susan Delano's 1855 Ceylon mission school presentation sampler

Mission school presentation sampler; Ceylon 1855, Susan E. Delano, Oodoopitty Female Boarding School (ABCFM mission school), Jaffna Province, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).ABCFM missionary presentation sampler created by a Tamil girl given the name Susan E.
Description
Mission school presentation sampler; Ceylon 1855, Susan E. Delano, Oodoopitty Female Boarding School (ABCFM mission school), Jaffna Province, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
ABCFM missionary presentation sampler created by a Tamil girl given the name Susan E. Delano by her teacher, Laura Weld Delano Lord (1827-TBD). This sampler measures about 11 3/4 x 12 1/2 inches. In 1850, Laura married Nathan Lynde Lord (1821-1868), a physician and missionary. They served at the Oodoopitty mission school in Jaffna province in Ceylon for a number of years until c1856, then served in a similar capacity at Madras, India before their return to the USA in the early 1860's. The sampler comes with family photos of teacher Laura Weld Delano Lord, husband Nathan Lynde Lord and their two children, Laura and Edwin, taken in 1863 after the missionary couple returned to New York.
Like the Oodooville sampler (2016.0181.2), this is a remarkable survivor of the 19th century worldwide missionary movement. The missionary couple Laura and Nathan Lord served the ABCFM mission in both Oodoopitty, Jaffna Province, Ceylon and in Madras, India. It is believed the couple brought the sampler back with them to the USA upon their return in the early 1860's. The sampler maker stitched both the place name Oodoopitty, Jaffna, Ceylon, AND Stowe, Vermont, the native town of Laura Weld Delano.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1855
ID Number
2016.0181.03.A
accession number
2016.0181
catalog number
2016.0181.03A

Piercy A. Lambert's Christian Alphabet Rewards of Merit (framed)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1851-09-18
September 18th, 1851
ID Number
2014.0244.366
accession number
2014.0244
catalog number
2014.0244.366

Prescription Label, Apotheke in Essen bei hermann Korte

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1858-10-15
ID Number
1991.0664.1276
catalog number
1991.0664.1276
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Adler Apotheke in Borbeck

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria. Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria. Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1859-05-19
ID Number
1991.0664.1193
catalog number
1991.0664.1193
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Engel Apotheke

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1858-03-22
ID Number
1991.0664.1304
catalog number
1991.0664.1304
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Sonnen Apotheke

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850-06-09
ID Number
1991.0664.1315
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
1991.0664.1315

Prescription Label, Apotheke in Wald von F.W. Paltzow

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1855-04-11
ID Number
1991.0664.1297
catalog number
1991.0664.1297
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Apotheke von A. Hempel in Dortmund

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1859-11-23
ID Number
1991.0664.1306
catalog number
1991.0664.1306
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Salomonis Apotheke Dresden

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1854
ID Number
1991.0664.1319
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
1991.0664.1319

Prescription Label, Apotheke von M. de Berghes

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1857-06-14
ID Number
1991.0664.1282
catalog number
1991.0664.1282
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, L. Klonne in Mudheim

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1858-09-07
ID Number
1991.0664.1224
catalog number
1991.0664.1224
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Zur Lowen Apotheke bei L. Flashhoff

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria. Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria. Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1850
ID Number
1991.0664.1146
catalog number
1991.0664.1146
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Apotheke in Steele

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1858-10-25
ID Number
1991.0664.1206
catalog number
1991.0664.1206
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Apotheke in Wald von F.W. Paltzow

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1855-04-12
ID Number
1991.0664.1296
catalog number
1991.0664.1296
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Apotheke von H.J. Trip in HuckeswagenBorken

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1855
ID Number
1991.0664.1261
catalog number
1991.0664.1261
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Zur Lowen Apotheke bei L. Flashhoff

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria. Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria. Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1850
ID Number
1991.0664.1147
catalog number
1991.0664.1147
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Adler Apotheke. vE. Hintze

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria. Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria. Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1857
ID Number
1991.0664.1188
catalog number
1991.0664.1188
accession number
1991.0664

Prescription Label, Engel Apotheke

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.Early labels were plain and without adornment.
Description (Brief)
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Collection has over two hundred early prescription labels from dozens of apothecaries across Germany and Austria.
Early labels were plain and without adornment. Later embellishments included decorative borders, images of animals such as stags, lions, or elephants associated with the name of the apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1858-10-02
ID Number
1991.0664.1305
catalog number
1991.0664.1305
accession number
1991.0664

San Rafael Arcángel

Date made
1840-1855
ID Number
CL.67.787
accession number
269937
catalog number
67.787

La Anunciación

Date made
1840-50
maker
Santero, Sto. Niño (?)
ID Number
CL.67.797
accession number
269937
catalog number
67.797

Red Lion Camp Meeting by Alfred Thompson Scott (artist) and P.S. Duval and Company (lithographers)

This colored print depicts a large camp meeting in a clearing in the forest. Camp meetings were a popular form of Protestant worship throughout the 19th century. Lasting several days, these open-air events often involved ecstatic communal prayer.
Description
This colored print depicts a large camp meeting in a clearing in the forest. Camp meetings were a popular form of Protestant worship throughout the 19th century. Lasting several days, these open-air events often involved ecstatic communal prayer. Hundreds and even thousands came from miles around for preaching and worship, and to enjoy the festival-like atmosphere. A circle of many tents surrounds a vast congregation with a pulpit in the center next to the preacher's tent. On the outskirts are many carriages and people.
The Red Lion camp meeting was held August 6-14, 1853, near Red Lion, New Castle County, Delaware. This religious revival was organized by the Methodist Episcopal Church and was presided over by several of their circuit preachers from the Philadelphia Conference. These included Reverend A. Atwood, P.F. Rev. Thomas Sumption, and Reverend R. Owen and Bishop Levy Scott. Given that the artist was the son of one of the sponsors of the event, this image can serve as a documented eyewitness account. The list of ministers is listed in the caption below the image.
Alfred Thompson Scott (1831-1914), son of Levi Scott, Methodist Episcopal Bishop of Delaware, was the original artist. This appears to be his earliest work. Scott partnered with daguerreotypist Nelson Carlisle, became a drawing and painting instructor for Wilmington’s Wesleyan Female College, and became a minister.
This print was produced by P.S. Duval and Company, A.T. Scott and Cyrus Stern. Peter S. Duval (ca. 1804/05-1886) was a French lithographer who immigrated to Philadelphia in 1831 to work for the lithographic firm of Childs & Inman. In 1837, he established his own lithographic firm in Philadelphia. During the 1840s, the firm's products included advertisements, book and periodical illustrations, sheet music covers, maps and portraits. By the end of that decade, Duval was winning awards for his work in chromolithography. He was also among the first to introduce steam power to the process of lithography. His son Stephen Orr Duval joined the company in 1858. The company headquarters suffered a disastrous fire in 1856 and Duval declared financial insolvency in 1859. However, he was able to reestablish his business, and he continued working till his retirement in 1869.
Cyrus Stern (1818-1891) was this print’s publisher/copyriter as well as an author and composer of other works. He was headquartered on Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1853
lithographer
P. S. Duval and Company
artist
Scott, Alfred T.
publisher
Stern, Cyrus
ID Number
DL.60.2966
catalog number
60.2966
accession number
228146

Teacher's Token compiled by Asa Bullard and John Andrew

Small chap book containing poems and stories intended to teach morals lessons to children. Illustrationsare included.
Description
Small chap book containing poems and stories intended to teach morals lessons to children. Illustrationsare included. Chap books were small paper covered booklets sold by peddlers known as chapmen, which comes from the Old English for the term "trade." The sizes made them easier to haul on carts for sale. The book is yellow with red text and the cover is illustrated with two children and a church steeple in the background. The front flyleaf contains a faint inscription. The stories were compiled by Asa Bullard (1804-1888) an American clergyman and illustrator John Andrew (1815-1875). It was published by Taggard & Thompson of Boston in 1857.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1857
ID Number
2014.0244.351
accession number
2014.0244
catalog number
2014.0244.351

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.