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.

Culture: Christians

Dutch Church Psalms, Copp Bible

This is a book of Dutch Church Psalms belonged to Samuel Copp Jr., born in Stonington, Connecticut in 1787. The Copp family had a long association with the First Congressional Church in Stonington, beginning with Jonathan Copp in 1699.
Description
This is a book of Dutch Church Psalms belonged to Samuel Copp Jr., born in Stonington, Connecticut in 1787. The Copp family had a long association with the First Congressional Church in Stonington, beginning with Jonathan Copp in 1699. His son Samuel became a deacon in 1802; this book was used by Samuel’s son Samuel Jr. around 1804. The book of Dutch Church Psalms contained the Psalms of David (set to a proper meter so they could be sung in church) as well as the Catechism, Compendium, Confession of Faith, and Liturgy for the Dutch Reformed Church. The book was printed and sold by Charles R. and George Webster in Albany, New York.
date made
1804
owner; user
Copp, Jr., Samuel
Copp Family
ID Number
DL.006861.01
catalog number
6861.01
accession number
28810

Flagon

Flat lid, straight tapered flagon or pitcher with applied, large, curved V-shape spout, chair-back thumbpiece and molded rim on a banded base with raised, flat bottom; plain body pierced with 6 rows of holes at spout.
Description
Flat lid, straight tapered flagon or pitcher with applied, large, curved V-shape spout, chair-back thumbpiece and molded rim on a banded base with raised, flat bottom; plain body pierced with 6 rows of holes at spout. Hollow, D-section, indented S-curve handle with tongue-over-pip below the three-knuckle hinge tapers to a hooded bud terminal on small oval attachment. Sawtooth or serrated circular "T.B." touchmark for Timothy Brigden at center of three concentric circles inside bottom.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1815 - 1819
ID Number
1986.0027.60
accession number
1986.0027
catalog number
1986.0027.60

March of the Klansmen, The

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1925
associated institution
Ku Klux Klan
publisher
Windle, Harry F.
lyricist; composer
Tillery, Noah F.
ID Number
1986.0309.09
accession number
1986.0309
catalog number
1986.0309.09

Communion Flagon

Large, inverted trumpet shape, lidded and spouted flagon with molded rim and midband on three cast cherub-head feet. Double-domed lid with heart-shaped cover over the inset, V-shaped, curvilinear spout.
Description
Large, inverted trumpet shape, lidded and spouted flagon with molded rim and midband on three cast cherub-head feet. Double-domed lid with heart-shaped cover over the inset, V-shaped, curvilinear spout. Hollow S-scroll handle with scrollback thumb piece, ridged and tongued thumbrest, and lower bud terminal with oval attachment. Bottom underside struck once with a large touchmark of Johann Christophe Heyne.
Maker is Johann Cristoph Heyne (1715-1781), a Saxon-born and -trained pewterer who was also a Moravian minister and teacher. He worked briefly in Germany (now part of Poland), Stockholm and London before immigrating to America in 1742 as part of the first group of Moravians to settle in Pennsylvania. He lived in Bethlehem and Tulpehocken, traveled to Dublin, Ireland as a missionary and finally made his home in Lancaster around 1752. Almost all of the roughly 100 known pieces of Heyne pewter are for ecclesiastical use.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1753-1781
maker
Heyne, Johann Christopher
ID Number
1986.0027.98
catalog number
1986.0027.98
accession number
1986.0027

African Americans in Richmond

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1874
date made
June 27, 1874
graphic artist
Harper & Brothers
ID Number
1985.0303.01
accession number
1985.0303
catalog number
1985.0303.01

Poema Comico-Historical El Indio Mas Venturoso...

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1828
depicted
Virgin of Guadalupe
author
Avila y Uribe, M. G.
publisher
Valdez
ID Number
1988.0466.01
catalog number
1988.0466.01
accession number
1988.0466

Baptismal Bowl

Shallow, footed, circular bowl with narrow, molded rim, rounded sides and broad, slightly rounded bottom on a domed base with short, bulging stem; single incised line inside bottom, two on stem, and one each on exterior of bowl and base.
Description
Shallow, footed, circular bowl with narrow, molded rim, rounded sides and broad, slightly rounded bottom on a domed base with short, bulging stem; single incised line inside bottom, two on stem, and one each on exterior of bowl and base. Partial marks inside bowl include the circular eagle touchmark of Samuel Danforth at center above "[HA]RTFORD" in a serrated rectangle with four incuse "X" quality marks arranged around them as points of a diamond or lozenge.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1795 - 1816
ID Number
1986.0027.61
catalog number
1986.0027.61
accession number
1986.0027

Stokely Sturgis Bible

This much-used bible belonged to Delaware farmer Stokely Sturgis, who converted to the growing Methodist movement through the influence of an enslaved man named Richard Allen. Moved by Methodism’s indictment of slaveholding, Sturgis agreed to sell Allen his freedom.
Description
This much-used bible belonged to Delaware farmer Stokely Sturgis, who converted to the growing Methodist movement through the influence of an enslaved man named Richard Allen. Moved by Methodism’s indictment of slaveholding, Sturgis agreed to sell Allen his freedom. Allen became a preacher and moved to Philadelphia. He founded the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church there in 1794.
date made
18th century
ID Number
1989.0296.01
catalog number
1989.0296.01
accession number
1989.0296

“In the Chapel in the Moonlight”

This sheet music is for the song “In the Chapel in the Moonlight” written and composed by Billy Hill. The song was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Company Inc. of New York City in 1936.
Description

This sheet music is for the song “In the Chapel in the Moonlight” written and composed by Billy Hill. The song was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Company Inc. of New York City in 1936. The bright yellow cover features an illustration of a man standing in a chapel in the moonlight, signed by Barbelle. There is a large inset photograph of performer Phil Regan on the right of the cover.

The cover art for this sheet music was made by American artist and designer Albert Wilfred Barbelle (1887-1957). With a prolific career spanning over forty years, Barbelle created cover art for sheet music and albums.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1936
composer; lyricist
Hill, Billy
publisher
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc.
ID Number
1983.0313.09
accession number
1983.0313
catalog number
1983.0313.09

S.M.A. Fathers

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1983.0823.13
accession number
1983.0823
catalog number
1983.0823.13

Saucer (Paten)

Single-reeded saucer or small plate, possibly a paten, with plain flat well; no foot ring.
Description
Single-reeded saucer or small plate, possibly a paten, with plain flat well; no foot ring. Small touchmark of Johann Christophe Heyne, his initials "I.C.H." in a scalloped rectangular surround, on underside of well near center.
Maker is Johann Cristoph Heyne (1715-1781), a Saxon-born and -trained pewterer who was also a Moravian minister and teacher. He worked briefly in Germany (now part of Poland), Stockholm and London before immigrating to America in 1742 as part of the first group of Moravians to settle in Pennsylvania. He lived in Bethlehem and Tulpehocken, traveled to Dublin, Ireland as a missionary and finally made his home in Lancaster around 1752. Considering almost all of the roughly 100 known pieces of Heyne pewter are for ecclesiastical use, this small dish or plate could be a paten. (See flagon by Heyne, 1986.0027.98; also from the Kler Collection.)
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1752 - 1781
maker
Heyne, Johann Christopher
ID Number
1986.0027.02
catalog number
1986.0027.02
accession number
1986.0027

“Easter Parade”

This sheet music is for the song “Easter Parade” from the revue show As Thousands Cheer. Irving Berlin wrote the lyrics and composed the music to the song. Irving Berlin Inc.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “Easter Parade” from the revue show As Thousands Cheer. Irving Berlin wrote the lyrics and composed the music to the song. Irving Berlin Inc. of New York City published this sheet music in 1933.The bright red cover has a bottom silhouette illustration of people jubilantly marching in the Easter parade.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1933
composer
Berlin, Irving
publisher
Irving Berlin, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0424.144
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.144

“White Christmas”

This sheet music is for the song “White Christmas” from the film Holiday Inn. Irving Berlin wrote and composed the song, and Irving Berlin Inc. published this sheet music in 1942.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “White Christmas” from the film Holiday Inn. Irving Berlin wrote and composed the song, and Irving Berlin Inc. published this sheet music in 1942. The cover has several different still photographs from the film, which starred Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, and Virginia Dale.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1942
composer
Berlin, Irving
publisher
Irving Berlin, Inc.
ID Number
1983.0424.148
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.148

African Americans in Richmond

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1874
graphic artist
Harper & Brothers
ID Number
1985.0303.04
accession number
1985.0303
catalog number
1985.0303.04

“The Maiden's Prayer”

This sheet music is for the song “The Maiden's Prayer” which was composed by Thécla (Tekla) Badarzewska in 1856. The sheet music was published by the Armstrong Music Publishing Company in the early 1900s.
Description (Brief)
This sheet music is for the song “The Maiden's Prayer” which was composed by Thécla (Tekla) Badarzewska in 1856. The sheet music was published by the Armstrong Music Publishing Company in the early 1900s. The white and red cover features an inset illustration of a maiden kneeling before a cross and candles in front of her window, as light shines down on her face. This song was published in Polish and French prior to being published in English, which is why the sub-title is “La Priére D’une Vierge.”
Location
Currently not on view
composer
Badarzewska, Thecla
publisher
Armstrong Music Publishing Company
ID Number
1983.0424.015
accession number
1983.0424
catalog number
1983.0424.015

Oberammergau Passion Play Poster

Poster advertising The Barnsdale Electric Moving Picture Company’s film of the Oberammergau Passion Play.
Description (Brief)
Poster advertising The Barnsdale Electric Moving Picture Company’s film of the Oberammergau Passion Play. The Oberammergau Passion Play is a presentation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, including his trial, suffering, and crucifixion, that has been performed in Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany since 1634. Walter Barnsdale started a traveling moving picture show company in the early 1900s that showed feature films with the best electric lighting equipment available at the time. Barnsdale traveled around the country and brought films to people who were often unable to travel to the city to see films.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1903
producer
Barnsdale Electric Moving Picture Company
maker
Barnsdale Electric Moving Picture Company
ID Number
1987.0200.01
accession number
1987.0200
catalog number
1987.0200.01

No. 87 Old Church at Santa Cruz, N.M.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880s
maker
Jackson, William Henry
ID Number
PG.006026A
accession number
224482
catalog number
6026A

Cathedral facade

Paper Negative by Charles Negre, printed by Andre Jammes. Black and white image of a large stone church with large circular stained glass window in the center and an empty courtyard our front.Currently not on view
Description
Paper Negative by Charles Negre, printed by Andre Jammes. Black and white image of a large stone church with large circular stained glass window in the center and an empty courtyard our front.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Negre, Charles
ID Number
PG.66.63.079
catalog number
66.63.79
accession number
265102

Statue of St. Jean, Chartres

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Negre, Charles
ID Number
PG.66.63.077
catalog number
66.63.77
accession number
265102

No. 88. Church of Santa Cruz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880s
maker
Jackson, William Henry
ID Number
PG.006026D
accession number
224482
catalog number
6026D

No. 1155 Pueblo San Juan, The Old Church

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880s
maker
Jackson, William Henry
ID Number
PG.006026B
accession number
224482
catalog number
6026B

Demon and Goblin Sculpture, Notre Dame

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Negre, Charles
ID Number
PG.66.63.082
catalog number
66.63.82
accession number
265102

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Negre, Charles
ID Number
PG.66.63.080
catalog number
66.63.80
accession number
265102

Angel of Resurrection, Notre Dame Cathedral

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Negre, Charles
ID Number
PG.66.63.076
catalog number
66.63.76
accession number
265102

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