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

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Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1991
ID Number
1991.3196.01
catalog number
1991.3196.01
nonaccession number
1991.3196

La Sagrada Familia

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1990-04-27
artist
Jones, Anita Romero
maker
Jones, Anita Romero
ID Number
1990.0664.06
catalog number
1990.0664.06
accession number
1990.0664

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

The Holy Bible

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1880 - 1890
ID Number
ZZ.RSN82667U02

A Prayer Book for Sailors and Soldiers

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1917
ID Number
ZZ.RSN82667U07

Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, Volume 1

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1794
originator (author or composer, etc.)
Henry, Matthew
author
Henry, Matthew
ID Number
ZZ.RSN82667U01

A Complete History of the Holy Bible

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date published; date printed
1808
ID Number
ZZ.RSN82667U03

Uncle Henry's Stories

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1863
inscribed date
1866-12-25
ID Number
ZZ.RSN82679U29

Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, Volume 4

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1794
originator (author or composer, etc.)
Henry, Matthew
author
Henry, Matthew
ID Number
ZZ.RSN82667U00

The Bible Companion

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date published
1833
inscribed date
1868-12-25
ID Number
ZZ.RSN82667U06

book

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2014.0004.142
accession number
2014.0004
catalog number
2014.0004.142

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

Religious icons in window of a lowrider

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2005
maker
Galvez, Jose
ID Number
2021.0106.0007
accession number
2021.0106
catalog number
2021.0106.0007

Avignon from across the river

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
ID Number
2012.0203.0090
accession number
2012.0203
catalog number
2012.0203.0090

Wooster Family Bible

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1806
ID Number
2015.0084.01
catalog number
2015.0084.01
accession number
2015.0084

Ecumenical Symbol for the Hindu Temple Society of North America

The Hindu Temple Society of North America was founded in 1970 and became one of the first and most prominent Hindu temples in the New York City area. It was built with traditional granite stones imported from India.
Description
The Hindu Temple Society of North America was founded in 1970 and became one of the first and most prominent Hindu temples in the New York City area. It was built with traditional granite stones imported from India. This prototype of the temple’s religious symbol was once carved into the façade of the building, and represents religious diversity through five major faiths – Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism – all surrounding and illuminated by the lamp of knowledge and acceptance, a symbol of Universalism.
date made
ca 1970
ID Number
2016.0049.01
catalog number
2016.0049.01
accession number
2016.0049

Holy Bible

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2014.0004.128
accession number
2014.0004
catalog number
2014.0004.128

View of Villeneuve les Avignon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
ID Number
2012.0203.0092
accession number
2012.0203
catalog number
2012.0203.0092

Mission School Presentation sampler; Jane S. Purviance; Ceylon; 1848

Ceylon 1848, Jane S. Purviance, Oodooville Female Central School (ABCFM mission school).
Description
Ceylon 1848, Jane S. Purviance, Oodooville Female Central School (ABCFM mission school). Jaffna Province, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Presentation sampler, wool on embroidery canvas, worked in English and Hindi lettering by a Tamil girl student of the American missionary school at Oodooville, Ceylon in 1848. This is a visually appealing Berlin work sampler in excellent condition with nice color. It has a sight size of about 15 x 12 inches and was mounted in a 20th century frame by a previous owner. Ex Brunk auction, then ex private collection. The sampler has inscriptions in both English and Hindi dealing with the 19th century equivalent of "born again" Christianity. It is dated and signed with the Tamil girl creator's sponsored given Christian name. Below the inscriptions is a Berlin work floral arrangement. The whole is surrounded by a floral border.
The dealer found an old inscription on crumbling paper on the back of the frame (missing words in brackets supplied by the dealer): This sampler was worked by Jane S. Purviance [a student at] a Boarding School at [Oodooville] & a Beneficiary of the Female Mite Soc. Bal. Md. This sampler is designed as a small memento from J.S.P. to Miss Margaret Purviance of Baltimore Md.
The dealer’s investigation confirmed that there was a Jane S. Purviance (1805-1835) who lived in Baltimore. Jane had a younger sister Margaret S. Purviance (1808-after 1870), also a lifelong Baltimore resident. The publication of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the Missionary Herald, listed Margaret Purviance as a donor of $20 per year - giving her the right to give a Christian name to one of the Hindu speaking Tamil girls at the Oodooville school. The crumbling paper inscription suggests that Margaret requested that the girl be given the name of her deceased sister and that the mission school select a girl born the year her sister Jane died. This sampler is a remarkable connection between the worldwide missionary movement of the 19th century and donors in the USA.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1848
ID Number
2016.0181.02
accession number
2016.0181
catalog number
2016.0181.02

A Present to the Monastery

hand colored stereograph; handwritten on verso "A Present to the Monastery"; man wearing monk's robes at left leaning against support of an archway, left hand clutched at chest, cross tied around waist; basekt hanging from vines on right side of arch support with a baby inside; a
Description (Brief)
hand colored stereograph; handwritten on verso "A Present to the Monastery"; man wearing monk's robes at left leaning against support of an archway, left hand clutched at chest, cross tied around waist; basekt hanging from vines on right side of arch support with a baby inside; a second monk is standing inside open doorway underneath center of arch
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850s-1860s
ID Number
2012.3033.0380
nonaccession number
2012.3033
catalog number
2012.3033.0380

Christ and Mary

black and white stereograph mounted on grey cardstock; printed on verso "Christ and Mary"; handwritten on verso "Gift of Miss Hope Gray / 4 March, 1927"; image of a sculpted figurine of a man and woman; seated man on left wearing loosely draped clothing, right hand raised up and
Description (Brief)
black and white stereograph mounted on grey cardstock; printed on verso "Christ and Mary"; handwritten on verso "Gift of Miss Hope Gray / 4 March, 1927"; image of a sculpted figurine of a man and woman; seated man on left wearing loosely draped clothing, right hand raised up and looking down at woman seated at his feet; woman at right wearing loosely draped clothing and a shawl pulled up around her head, seated on ground at feet of man, face upturned towards man
date made
mid-late 1800s
ID Number
2012.3033.0521
nonaccession number
2012.3033
catalog number
2012.3033.0521

Old stone walls of Avignon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
ID Number
2012.0203.0091
accession number
2012.0203
catalog number
2012.0203.0091

First Baptist Church in America, Providence

black and white stereograph mounted on orange cardstock; photograph by Leander Baker; handwritten on verso in pencil "First Baptist"; printed on recto "Providence Views. / Leander Baker, Photo. 17 Waterman Street, Providence, R.I. / Providence Views.
Description (Brief)
black and white stereograph mounted on orange cardstock; photograph by Leander Baker; handwritten on verso in pencil "First Baptist"; printed on recto "Providence Views. / Leander Baker, Photo. 17 Waterman Street, Providence, R.I. / Providence Views. / Views Made to Order at Bottom Prices"; image of a church (Baptist) meeting house from side; white, two level clapboard building with tall steeple over entrance
date made
mid-late 1800s
ID Number
2012.3033.0597
nonaccession number
2012.3033
catalog number
2012.3033.0597

Virgin of Guadalupe

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1989
depicted
Virgin of Guadalupe
ID Number
1990.0361.02
catalog number
1990.0361.02
accession number
1990.0361
catalog number
1990.361.2

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