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 888 items.
Page 80 of 89
City Mutual Fire Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The City Mutual Fire Insurance Company of St. Louis, Missouri issued this zinc fire mark around 1861. The oval mark features raised text that reads “CITY/MUTUAL.” The fire mark has been damaged on its left side. The City Mutual Fire Insurance Company operated in St. Louis from 1861 until 1878.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1861
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0509
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0509
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
City Mutual Fire Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The City Mutual Fire Insurance Company of St. Louis, Missouri issued this zinc fire mark around 1861. The oval mark features raised text that reads “CITY/MUTUAL.” The City Mutual Fire Insurance Company operated in St. Louis from 1861 until 1878.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1861
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0510
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0510
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Hope Mutual Fire Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The Hope Mutual Fire Insurance Company of St. Louis was active from 1857 until 1901, when it was purchased by the National Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The shield-shaped fire mark is made of zinc, with an anchor in its center, a traditional symbol for hope. The mark has a raised rim and raised lettering that reads “HOPE/MUTUAL /ST. LOUIS.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1858
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0511
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0511
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Hope Mutual Fire Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The Hope Mutual Fire Insurance Company of St. Louis was active from 1857 until 1901, when it was purchased by the National Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The shield-shaped fire mark is made of zinc, with a raised image of an anchor in its center. The mark has a raised rim and raised lettering that reads “HOPE/MUTUAL/ST. LOUIS.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1858
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0512
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0512
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
State Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The State Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Hannibal, Missouri issued this zinc fire mark in 1865. The oval mark features a relief of the state seal of Missouri in the center, with raised text around the rim that reads “STATE/MUTUAL.” The mark has been painted red. The State Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company operated from 1865 until 1873.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1865
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0513
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0513
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
State Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The State Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Hannibal, Missouri issued this zinc fire mark in 1865. The oval mark features a relief of the state seal of Missouri in the center, with raised text around the rim that reads “STATE/MUTUAL.” The State Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company operated from 1865 until 1873.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1865
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0514
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0514
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Western Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The Western Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company of St. Louis, Missouri issued this iron fire mark in 1857. The oval mark features a central relief of two clasped hands, with raised text around the rim that reads “WESTERN/MUTUAL.” The Western Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company operated in St. Louis from 1857 to 1874.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1857
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0515
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0515
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
United Firemen’s Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The United Firemen’s Insurance Company of Nashville, Tennessee issued this cast iron fire mark around 1852. The oval mark has flourishes at its top, bottom, and sides. There are raised letters at the top that reads “UFIC” and a raised image in the center of a fire plug with hose coming from the back to the front.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1852
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0536
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0536
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
United Firemen’s Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The United Firemen’s Insurance Company of Nashville, Tennessee issued this cast iron fire mark around 1852. The oval mark has protruding flourishes at its top, bottom, and sides. There are raised letters at the top that reads “UFIC” and a raised image in the center of a fire plug with hose coming from the back to the front.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1852
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0537
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0537
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Washington Mutual Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The Washington Mutual Insurance Company of Boston, Massachusetts issued this brass fire mark in 1844. The rectangular mark has a raised border with raised text in the center that reads “WASHINGTON/MUTUAL.” The Washington Mutual Insurance Company never commenced business.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1844
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0538
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0538
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center