Hat belonging to Officer Harry Dunn, United States Captiol Police, and worn on January 6, 2021. Dark blue polyester fleece hat with foldable brim. On the brim is a United States Capitol Police embroidered patch, with the Capitol Building in white and the date 1828 in red within a gold-edged shield shape. Above the shield is a white banne with the words "UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE" in red and below is a laurel wreath in white.
Metal firefighter’s badges were a part of the firefighter’s uniform since volunteer companies began to proliferate in the early 19th century. As volunteer companies gave way to municipal fire departments during the mid-19th century, these badges became mandated by uniform codes. These badges often served as official identification for firefighters at fire scenes, as access to derelict buildings by unscrupulous citizens could result in looting. Fire badges came in a variety of shapes, most notably circular, shield-shaped, or the Maltese cross. While shield-shaped badges were often worn on the chest, circular and Maltese cross badges are seen on jacket lapels or soft caps. Badges usually detailed the company’s city, company name, and/or company number, decorated with various symbols of the profession such as hose reels, hand-pumped engines, hoses, trumpets, helmets, hooks, and ladders. For paid municipal companies many badges also featured the badge number of the wearer.
Fire fighter's boot, black with yellow accents (bottom of foot, band around the top). Rough textile (wool) interior lining with two semi-circular pull straps at the top. Yellow square at the back of the heel reads "9 / MEDIUM." Heavy textured sole with deep tread and "VIBRAM" in yellow diamond-shaped logo at center. Logo at top left reads "FIRETECH / LaCrosse." Inside, hand-written inscription over the specifications label in black marker read "MDA Boot." In pen over the barcoded ID label inscription reads "NIS" (Not in service). Owner's name written in black marker "McNew."
Throughout the 1900s, national fundraising efforts became annual traditions in communities throughout the United States. At street corners across the nation, the International Association of Fire Fighters’ Fill the Boot campaign has raised funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1954.
Metal firefighter’s badges were a part of the firefighter’s uniform since volunteer companies began to proliferate in the early 19th century. As volunteer companies gave way to municipal fire departments during the mid-19th century, these badges became mandated by uniform codes. These badges often served as official identification for firefighters at fire scenes, as access to derelict buildings by unscrupulous citizens could result in looting. Fire badges came in a variety of shapes, most notably circular, shield-shaped, or the Maltese cross. While shield-shaped badges were often worn on the chest, circular and Maltese cross badges are seen on jacket lapels or soft caps. Badges usually detailed the company’s city, company name, and/or company number, decorated with various symbols of the profession such as hose reels, hand-pumped engines, hoses, trumpets, helmets, hooks, and ladders. For paid municipal companies many badges also featured the badge number of the wearer.
Metal firefighter’s badges were a part of the firefighter’s uniform since volunteer companies began to proliferate in the early 19th century. As volunteer companies gave way to municipal fire departments during the mid-19th century, these badges became mandated by uniform codes. These badges often served as official identification for firefighters at fire scenes, as access to derelict buildings by unscrupulous citizens could result in looting. Fire badges came in a variety of shapes, most notably circular, shield-shaped, or the Maltese cross. While shield-shaped badges were often worn on the chest, circular and Maltese cross badges are seen on jacket lapels or soft caps. Badges usually detailed the company’s city, company name, and/or company number, decorated with various symbols of the profession such as hose reels, hand-pumped engines, hoses, trumpets, helmets, hooks, and ladders. For paid municipal companies many badges also featured the badge number of the wearer.
Metal firefighter’s badges were a part of the firefighter’s uniform since volunteer companies began to proliferate in the early 19th century. As volunteer companies gave way to municipal fire departments during the mid–19th century, these badges became mandated by uniform codes. Badges served as official identification at fire scenes, as access to derelict buildings by unscrupulous citizens could result in looting. Fire badges came in a variety of shapes, most notably circular, shield–shaped, or the Maltese cross. While shield–shaped badges were often worn on the chest, circular and cross-shaped badges can be seen on jacket lapels or soft caps. Badges usually detailed the company’s name, number and department, and were often decorated with various symbols of the profession such as hose carriages, hand–pumped engines, hoses, trumpets, helmets, hooks, and ladders. For paid municipal companies, many badges also featured the badge number of the wearer.
Model of an 18th-century rotary pump engine. The model represents the original 18th-century engine purchased by the Darby Fire Company No. 1 of Darby, Pennsylvania, on June 20, 1833, from a Philadelphia fire company. Similar engines were imported from England until the American Revolution gave impetus to domestic manufacturing of fire apparatus.
Metal firefighter’s badges were a part of the firefighter’s uniform since volunteer companies began to proliferate in the early 19th century. As volunteer companies gave way to municipal fire departments during the mid-19th century, these badges became mandated by uniform codes. These badges often served as official identification for firefighters at fire scenes, as access to derelict buildings by unscrupulous citizens could result in looting. Fire badges came in a variety of shapes, most notably circular, shield-shaped, or the Maltese cross. While shield-shaped badges were often worn on the chest, circular and Maltese cross badges are seen on jacket lapels or soft caps. Badges usually detailed the company’s city, company name, and/or company number, decorated with various symbols of the profession such as hose reels, hand-pumped engines, hoses, trumpets, helmets, hooks, and ladders. For paid municipal companies many badges also featured the badge number of the wearer.
While some buckets featured remarkable decoration and artistry, many were quite simple. This bucket is like many which belonged to individual citizens. It is marked only with the name of its owner, George Harrison, painted on an arched banner. This served as identification so that he might reclaim his bucket after a fire was over.
Note: Buckets G19, G23, G30, G39, G41, G42, G48, G53, G103, G107, G122, and G123 all fit this pattern, featuring a name and sometimes a year, with minimal additional decoration.
This leather bucket is marked “Young America 1.” “Young America” was a name commonly used by fire companies. For example, Philadelphia and Salem both had engines named “Young America,” while there was a Young America Fire Company in Sacramento and a Young American Engine Company in San Francisco. Such names allowed volunteer firemen to present themselves as heartily patriotic. This bucket may have been painted red to further emphasize this theme. Fire companies envisioned themselves as “embodiments of the body politic,” and this was especially evident in their language of naming and in the decoration of their equipment.
This ribbon belonged to a member of the arrangement committee for Ramsey, New Jersey’s Firemen’s Day in 1905. The ribbon has an upper pin behind a metal plaque holding a paper insert that reads “Arrangement Committee.” Hanging from the plaque is a ribbon in the style of an American flag with a circular pin bearing the image of a fireman wearing a fire helmet. A red ribbon also hangs from the plaque, bearing the text “FIREMEN’S/DAY/RAMSEY/FIRE DEPT/1905” in gold text.