Betsey’s sampler includes three distinguishing features of Rhode Island samplers; trumpeting angels with embroidered faces, queen stitch flowers, and a three-story house. Below the house, flanking flowers and birds is the verse:
“While hof[s]tile foes our coaf[s]ts Invade in all the pomp of war arrayd Ameri cans be not dismayd nor fear the f[s]word or GUn
While Innocence is all our pride and vir tue is our only Guide Women would f[s]corn to be defyd if led by WASHINGTON”
This verse on Betsy’s sampler offers a rare opportunity to discover the political thinking of a young girl during the Revolutionary War. She is showing a brave female defiance of Britain and an unwavering faith in George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army. Betsy undoubtedly was influenced by her father who was a privateer during the Revolutionary War. At the bottom of the sampler, flanked by queen stitch flowers, is a cartouche with the inscription:
“Betf[s]y Bucklin Her Work Septe mber 1781”
It is not known who the author of the inscriptions is. The sampler is stitched with silk embroidery thread on a linen ground with a thread count of warp 25, weft 23/in. The stitches used are cross, crosslet, queen, rice, straight, fly, stem, tent, and gobelin.
Betsy [Elizabeth] Bucklin was born on September 20, 1768, in Providence, Rhode Island to Capt. Daniel and Eliza Carpenter Bucklin. On November 11, 1792, Betsy married Samuel Eddy. They had three children - Martha, Jonathan, and Elizabeth. She died of consumption on October 27, 1799, in Providence, Rhode Island.
The traditional American leather firefighter’s helmet with its distinctive long rear brim, frontpiece, and crest adornment was first developed around 1821-1836 in New York City. Henry T. Gratacap, a New York City luggage maker by trade, is often credited as the developer of this style of fire helmet. Gratacap created a specially treated leather helmet with a segmented “comb” design that led to unparalleled durability and strength. The elongated rear brim (also known as a duckbill or beavertail) and frontpiece were 19th century innovations that remain the most identifiable feature of firefighter’s helmets. The body of the helmet was primarily designed to deflect falling debris, the rear brim prevented water from running down firefighters’ backs, and their sturdy crowns could aid, if necessary, in breaking windows.
This leather fire helmet was manufactured by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York in the late 19th century. The 16 comb hat is painted black overall, with ivy vine scroll work stamped around the brim, and a two hoses flanking an inset metal frontpiece on the back of the brim. There is a metal frontpiece holder in the form of the fireman with a speaking trumpet to his mouth. The frontpiece is black leather with a red background and white lettering. The frontpiece reads “LIBERTY/7” in white leather and is signed “Daniel Gregory/Paterson, NJ” in the center. Gregory served as a member of several different Paterson Fire Companies, and was an officer in the Exempt Association of Paterson.
The traditional American leather firefighter’s helmet with its distinctive long rear brim, frontpiece, and crest adornment was first developed around 1821-1836 in New York City. Henry T. Gratacap, a New York City luggage maker by trade, is often credited as the developer of this style of fire helmet. Gratacap created a specially treated leather helmet with a segmented “comb” design that led to unparalleled durability and strength. The elongated rear brim (also known as a duckbill or beavertail) and frontpiece were 19th century innovations that remain the most identifiable feature of firefighter’s helmets. The body of the helmet was primarily designed to deflect falling debris, the rear brim prevented water from running down firefighters’ backs, and their sturdy crowns could aid, if necessary, in breaking windows.
This leather helmet was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York in the late 19th century. The helmet is painted white overall, with 16 combs, the four main combs are painted gold. An ivy-vine scrollwork pattern is stamped around the brim of the helmet, and the edge of the helmet is painted gold. The rear brim has a design of crossed hooks and ladders surrounded by a hose and trumpets, with an inset metal frontpiece that bears the inscription “J. McNally by Senate H & L Co. 1, Sing Sing, July 1886.” A metal eagle’s head mounted to the crown of the helmet serves as a frontpiece holder. The crudely-rendered frontpiece reads “CHEIF (sic) ENGINEER/C.F.D.” with a painting of a goose neck, piano-style hand-pump engine in the center. The frontpiece may not be original to the helmet.
Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church
maker
Currier, Nathaniel
ID Number
DL.60.2929
catalog number
60.2929
accession number
228146
Description
This black and white print is of a life membership to a Mr. Philip J.A. Harper issued by the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Society, begun in 1820 and headquartered in New York City, was among the earliest organizations that focused on mission within and outside the United States. It initially worked to convert Native Americans and slaves before extending its activities to inhabitants of West Africa and elsewhere overseas.
A vignette depicting missionary activity appears above the text that was inspired by the Society’s proselytizing during the 19th Century. On the right side is a depiction of Native Americans and Africans who were “saved” due to the preaching of a missionary. The left side shows the damnation that comes to those who fail to hear God’s word. Above the scene floats a triumphant angel sent by God who is blowing a trumpet, Bible in hand.
This print was produced by Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888). Currier was the founder of the company that eventually became the Currier & Ives lithography firm. At the age of fifteen Currier apprenticed with the Pendleton lithography firm in New York City. Five years later he moved to Philadelphia to work with the lithographer M.E.D. Brown (1810-1896). After a year Currier moved back to New York, where he intended on going into business with one of the Pendleton brothers. Instead he formed a partnership in 1834 with Adam Stodart who was in the sheet music business. Within a year he opened his own lithography company on Wall Street and then moved to Nassau and Spruce. In 1852 a bookkeeper named James Merritt Ives joined the firm. He married Charles Currier’s sister-in-law and brought to the firm a critical eye and business acumen. In five years he had become a partner. Currier & Ives would become arguably the most successful and prodigious lithography firm of the 19th century. Although especially well known for prints celebrating American landscapes and pastimes like sailing and ice skating, Currier & Ives also produced lithographs that featured current events, social issues and political controversies
The traditional American leather firefighter’s helmet with its distinctive long rear brim, frontpiece, and crest adornment was first developed around 1821-1836 in New York City. Henry T. Gratacap, a New York City luggage maker by trade, is often credited as the developer of this style of fire helmet. Gratacap created a specially treated leather helmet with a segmented “comb” design that led to unparalleled durability and strength. The elongated rear brim (also known as a duckbill or beavertail) and frontpiece were 19th century innovations that remain the most identifiable feature of firefighter’s helmets. The body of the helmet was primarily designed to deflect falling debris, the rear brim prevented water from running down firefighters’ backs, and their sturdy crowns could aid, if necessary, in breaking windows.
This leather fire helmet was made by Anderson & Jones of New York, New York around 1845. The black helmet has an embossed ivy-vine design around the helmet’s brim. The helmet has 32 combs and a metal eagle frontpiece holder attached to its crown. The black leather frontpiece has a central image of a speaking trumpet topped by a fire helmet, with a variety of firefighting paraphernalia including hoses, hooks, and axes behind it. The frontpiece reads “N.Y./VOLUNTEER/ASSOCIATION/HKW” around the central image. On the rear underbrim is an inset that bears the text “Presented to/H.K. Woodruff by/ G.J.D. M.S.D.V./M.L. J.E.M./P.S.D.V.” This hat was presented to H.K. Woodruff, a volunteer firefight formerly of the Independent Hose Company No. 3, upon the organization of the New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association. The Firemen’s Association was organized in February of 1884 and was filled with ex-volunteer firemen who wished to keep the memory of volunteer firefighting alive after the creation of the paid fire department in New York.
This trumpet was made by an unknown maker around 1940-1950. It is a B-flat trumpet made of plated brass. This student model or beginners trumpet is inscribed “STUDENT” on the bell.
This trumpet was made by Leopold Uhlmann (1806-1878) in Vienna about 1840. It is a D trumpet made of brass with a nickel silver bell garland, and three Viennese style double piston valves. It’s likely that this trumpet was an early type of piccolo trumpet developed for clarino parts. This trumpet is engraved:
Leopold Uhlmann K:K:priv: Instrumenten fabrik in Wien
Leopold Uhlmann apprenticed with his father, Johann, in Vienna and studied horn at the Vienna Conservatory. Uhlmann received a patent for his improvements for double piston valves in 1830. He made instruments until his death in 1878, and his firm was continued by his son until about 1900.
This trumpet was made by Jindrich Zazvonil in Kladno, Bohemia (Czech Republic) around 1909-1920. It is C trumpet made of brass with nickel silver bell garland and trim and has 3 Viennese-style double piston side-played valves. This trumpet is engraved:
This trumpet was made by Wright & Baldwin in Boston, Massachusetts about 1845. It is an F trumpet made of brass with three Viennese double piston valves. This trumpet is of an unusual design, known as an Old Mainz Model, is played with the body of the trumpet above the fingering levers. This trumpet is engtraved:
Wright & Baldwin Makers-Boston
Elbridge G. Wright (1811-1871) started his musical instrument firm in Boston in 1841. This trumpet is one of the few instruments made during Wright’s brief partnership with Baldwin in 1845.
This trumpet was made by Antoine Courtois in Paris around 1844-1856. It is an F slide trumpet made of silver plated brass with a double clock spring and four crooks, tuning bit and four mouthpieces and accessioned with a period wooden case. This trumpet was sold through Jullien & Co. in London. The bell is inscribed:
Approved by HERR KOENIG ANTOINE COURTOIS BREVETE FACTEUR DU CONSERVOIRE IMPERIAL RU DU CAIRE 21 PARIS JULLIEN & Co. Sole Agents ] 214 Regent Ste. London.
The Courtois firm was founded by Antoine’s father in rue Mazarine in Paris, 1789. Around 1803, Antoine Courtois (1770-1855) relocated the firm to 21, rue du Caire. In 1851, Antoine’s son, Denis A. Courtois became the successor of the company and by 1856 moved the firm to 88, rue des Marais. The Courtois firm became a prominent brass instrument maker and continued after the death of Denis in 1880 with various owners.
This trumpet was made by an unknown maker in England, around 1833 to 1837. It is a G trumpet made of brass with two ivory topped Stölzel model piston valves and accessioned with four crooks, in E-flat, F, D, and C.
Heinrich David Stölzel (1777-1844) was born in Scheeberg, Germany and was a horn player who developed some of the first valves for brass instruments. Stölzel developed this type of valve around 1814.
This trumpet is marked “Marceau” and made in Czechoslovakia late 1930s - early 1940s. It is a B-flat trumpet made of silver-plated brass with three piston valves. The bore of this trumpet closely resembled that of a cornet. This trumpet is engraved:
MARCEAU CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Marceau is a Trade name used by Sears Roebuck & Co.
This trumpet was made by Dominic Calicchio in Los Angeles, California around 1954 to 1956. It is a B-flat trumpet, serial #1520, made of brass with 3 piston valves. This trumpet is engraved:
D. CALICCHIO LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
Dominic Calicchio (1901-1979) was born in Italy and emigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Calicchio learned his trade at the Rudy Muck brass factory in New York and in 1947, moved to California to make trumpets. During his career, Calicchio made almost two thousand trumpets.
In 1973, a documentary The Last Trumpet Maker, featuring the career of Dominic Calicchio, was made by K. H. Dempwolf, S. Marc Tapper, and Donald C. Fergus.
This trumpet was made by King Musical Instruments, Inc. in Eastlake, Ohio in 1981. It is a B-flat trumpet, serial #863033, made of brass with 3 piston valves with mother-of-pearl buttons. This trumpet is engraved “Harry James” on the bell, and played by him.
Harry Hagg James (1916-1983) began his early career playing with his father’s circus band. By 1935, James joined Ben Pollack’s band and two years later would go on to star with Benny Goodman’s Orchestra. James formed his own orchestra in 1939, which would continue through the early 1980s.
Harry James appeared in several movies from 1937 to 1983, including Swing Fever (1943), Bathing Beauty (1944), and If I’m Lucky (1946).
This trumpet was made by Hirsbrunner in Sumiswald, Switzerland around 1800 to 1825. It is a G circular trumpet made of brass with an F crook, lead pipe, and mouthpiece. This compressed trumpet model, known as a stopftrompete, has a tuning slide in the center of the coil similar to a cor d’orchestre of the period.
The Hirsbrunner firm was founded by Christian Hirsbrunner in the late 18th century. The company continued with Hirsbrunner family members and still makes musical instruments to this day.
This trumpet was made by an unknown maker in England around 1825 to 1827. It is an F slide trumpet made of copper and brass with silver garnishes and a heavily chased silver ball. The trumpet features a double clock slide spring mechanism.
This trumpet was previously owned by Philadelphia composer and musician John T. Norton, a Professor of Trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music, who emigrated from London to the United States in 1827. W.G. Armstrong in his book, A Record of Opera in Philadelphia, indicates Norton’s first appearance in Philadelphia was at the King’s Theatre. Norton also performed with traveling opera troupes in New Orleans and New York.
This trumpet was made by Franz Hörth in Saarbrücken, Germany in 1913. It is an E-flat trumpet made of brass with nickel silver trim and has three mechanical rotary valves. This trumpet is engraved:
Franz Hörth Saarbrucken. Jager Regt. z. Pferde No. 8 1913
According to the accession paperwork, this trumpet was one of 12 instruments captured from the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 8 (Eighth Jaeger German Mounted Band) during WWI.
Franz Hörth (also spelled Hoerth) (1862-1932) founded his musical instrument firm in what was known as St. Johann in 1898. This small fishing village merged with two other villages to form Saarbrücken around 1909. Hörth’s son-in-law Richard Wolff became manager of the company around 1921, then known as “Franz Hoerth, metal and wood instrument maker, musical instruments and talking machines."
This trumpet was made by an unknown maker in Germany around 1910-1913. It is an E-flat trumpet made of brass with nickel silver trim and has three rotary valves.
According to the accession paperwork, this trumpet was one of 12 instruments captured from the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 8 (Eighth Jaeger German Mounted Band) during WWI.
This trumpet was made by Franz Hörth in Saarbrücken, Germany in 1913. It is an E-flat trumpet made of brass with nickel silver trim and has three mechanical rotary valves. This trumpet is engraved:
Franz Hörth Saarbrucken. Jager Regt. z. Pferde No.8 1913
According to the accession paperwork, this trumpet was one of 12 instruments captured from the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 8 (Eighth Jaeger German Mounted Band) during WWI.
Franz Hörth (also spelled Hoerth) (1862-1932) founded his musical instrument firm in what was known as St. Johann in 1898. This small fishing village merged with two other villages to form Saarbrücken around 1909. Hörth’s son-in-law Richard Wolff became manager of the company around 1921, then known as “Franz Hoerth, metal and wood instrument maker, musical instruments and talking machines."
This trumpet was made by Franz Hörth in Saarbrücken, Germany in 1913. It is an E-flat trumpet made of brass with nickel silver trim and has three mechanical rotary valves. This trumpet is engraved:
Franz Hörth Saarbrucken. Jager Regt. z. Pferde No.8 1913
According to the accession paperwork, this trumpet was one of 12 instruments captured from the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 8 (Eighth Jaeger German Mounted Band) during WWI.
Franz Hörth (also spelled Hoerth) (1862-1932) founded his musical instrument firm in what was known as St. Johann in 1898. This small fishing village merged with two other villages to form Saarbrücken around 1909. Hörth’s son-in-law Richard Wolff became manager of the company around 1921, then known as “Franz Hoerth, metal and wood instrument maker, musical instruments and talking machines."