Small, heart-shaped padlock with steel shackle, locking mechanism and small key with double circle opening in oval bow. Front of body is stamped incuse "M. W. & CO" in arched roman letters above keyhole. Alms box and padlock DL*245425.0078-.0079 were used together. Maker is Mallory Wheeler & Co., a lock and hardware manufacturer in New Haven, CT, 1834-1913.
Collection boxes have been used for centuries to solicit money for religious institutions and charities. Even those with little to spare might contribute coins anonymously to a strategically placed box. Unfamiliar in some American communities in the 1700s, these boxes became more commonly used in the United States in the 1800s.
Fire fighter's boot, black rubber with yellow accents (band at the center, band along the bottom of the foot). Rough textile (wool) interior with two semi-circular pull straps at the top. White square at heel reads "10 MEN'S WIDE." Textured along bottom edge of the foot with heavy textured tread on bottom. Boot is covered with approximately eight circular stickers for the MDA campaign showing a young boy being carried by a fire fighter and the slogan "I HELPED FIRE FIGHTERS FIGHT MDA." There is also a card bent around the front of the shin and stuck on with stickers that shows the same image and reads "HELP FIRE FIGHTERS FIGHT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY."
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.
Marathons, races, walks, and rides dot the annual calendars of nearly every major American city. Raising money while enjoying an activity is not new, but the level and scope of participation has increased markedly in the late 1900s. While some question if the cost of these events cut too much into the amounts raised, many participants describe a desire to do more than just write a check.
In the nineteenth century, volunteer fire companies often commissioned paintings to decorate their hand-pumped fire engines for parades, competitions, and community events. Sometimes framed with elaborate carvings, they adorned the tall air chamber located at the middle or rear of a pumper. The paintings would often feature patriotic, heroic, or allegorical images to associate the volunteer companies with these lofty ideals.
This fire engine panel came from the Franklin Engine Company No. 12 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was active as a hand engine company from 1792 until 1863 when it acquired a steam fire engine. It operated as a steam fire engine company until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established. The painting “Franklin with Loaf of Bread” is attributed to David Rent Etter and dates to around 1830. The painting depicts the young Benjamin Franklin’s arrival in Philadelphia in 1723. As recounted in his autobiography, he mistakenly bought more bread than he could eat and gave the extra loaves to a poor woman and child. Benjamin Franklin was well known for organizing the first volunteer fire company in Philadelphia, and his image and his name were popular among the city’s fire companies. By invoking Franklin, volunteer firemen linked themselves to the progenitor of their trade, as well as someone who played a key role in the Revolution and securing America’s freedom. This painting and its companion piece (object 2005.0233.0307) would have adorned either side of the company’s engine.
This printed program is from a concert given by Jenny Lind at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia on November 27, 1850. The first page features the portraits of Jenny Lind, promoter P.T. Barnum, baritone Giovani Belletti, and pianist, arranger and conductor Jules Benedict.
Johanna Maria “Jenny” Lind (1820-1887) was a Swedish soprano, famously known as the "Swedish Nightingale." She was one of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century. American showman P. T. Barnum contracted Lind to undertake a concert tour throughout the United States beginning in 1850. Lind terminated her contract with Barnum amicably in 1851 and continued to tour for nearly a year under her own management.
Advance publicity created such a demand for concert tickets that Barnum sold them at auction. Throughout the tour, popular frenzy for Jenny Lind tickets and merchandise created “Lindomania” raising large sums of money for Lind and Barnum. Lind donated much of her profits to charitable causes.
During her U.S. tour, from 1850 to 1852, Swedish opera star Jenny Lind donated her concert proceeds to various local charities. Master showman P. T. Barnum promoted her philanthropy, demonstrating for American audiences that her character was as admirable as her voice.
This printed program is from a concert given by Jenny Lind at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia on November 29, 1850. The first page features the portraits of Jenny Lind, promoter P.T. Barnum, baritone Giovani Belletti, and pianist, arranger and conductor Jules Benedict.
Johanna Maria “Jenny” Lind (1820-1887) was a Swedish soprano, famously known as the "Swedish Nightingale." She was one of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century. American showman P. T. Barnum contracted Lind to undertake a concert tour throughout the United States beginning in 1850. Lind terminated her contract with Barnum amicably in 1851 and continued to tour for nearly a year under her own management.
Advance publicity created such a demand for concert tickets that Barnum sold them at auction. Throughout the tour, popular frenzy for Jenny Lind tickets and merchandise created “Lindomania” raising large sums of money for Lind and Barnum. Lind donated much of her profits to charitable causes.
This printed program is from a concert given by Jenny Lind at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia on November 30, 1850. The first page features the portraits of Jenny Lind, promoter P.T. Barnum, baritone Giovani Belletti, and pianist, arranger and conductor Jules Benedict.
Johanna Maria “Jenny” Lind (1820-1887) was a Swedish soprano, famously known as the "Swedish Nightingale." She was one of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century. American showman P. T. Barnum contracted Lind to undertake a concert tour throughout the United States beginning in 1850. Lind terminated her contract with Barnum amicably in 1851 and continued to tour for nearly a year under her own management.
Advance publicity created such a demand for concert tickets that Barnum sold them at auction. Throughout the tour, popular frenzy for Jenny Lind tickets and merchandise created “Lindomania” raising large sums of money for Lind and Barnum. Lind donated much of her profits to charitable causes.
This printed program is from a concert given by Jenny Lind at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia on October 19, 1850. The inside back cover features the portraits of Jenny Lind, promoter P.T. Barnum, baritone Giovani Belletti, and pianist, arranger and conductor Jules Benedict.
Johanna Maria “Jenny” Lind (1820-1887) was a Swedish soprano, famously known as the "Swedish Nightingale." She was one of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century. American showman P. T. Barnum contracted Lind to undertake a concert tour throughout the United States beginning in 1850. Lind terminated her contract with Barnum amicably in 1851 and continued to tour for nearly a year under her own management.
Advance publicity created such a demand for concert tickets that Barnum sold them at auction. Throughout the tour, popular frenzy for Jenny Lind tickets and merchandise created “Lindomania” raising large sums of money for Lind and Barnum. Lind donated much of her profits to charitable causes.
Large circular dish having a slightly domed well and plain-edged rim engraved on front with the inscription "The Gift of the Hon:\ble THOMAS HANCOCK ESQ:\R to the CHURCH in Brattle Street Boston 1764." in script and shaded roman letters. Asymmetrical cartouche at top center of rim contains an armorial device for Hancock, consisting of a griffin rampant crest, its wings displayed and fire issuing from its mouth, above a coat of arms Gules (vertical lines), dexter hand couped argent, and on chief argent, three fighting cocks gules; bottom center has a four-winged cherub flanked by flowing fronds. Reverse of well struck once under centerpoint "J.COBURN" in roman letters in a rectangle; partially legible incised marks "N\o (??) w\t 25-\oz".
Community leaders in early America often gave valuable gifts to their churches. Thomas Hancock funded the purchase of this communion dish to Boston’s Brattle Street Church. Such gifts helped establish a wealthy donor as an important member of the congregation and helped cement their legacy.
After a young lady learned to embroider a sampler, she might attend a female academy to make a silk embroidered picture. This was a more challenging technique that became popular in the early 1800s. Subjects included classical, biblical, and historical scenes, as well as mourning pictures.
In an oval with couched chenille outline, a woman is followed by a child. She carries an infant and a basket of bread, and she is giving bread to a barefoot boy in patched clothing. Framing the oval are wheat-heads, stems, leaves, lilies, and a garland of roses with bow-knots held by a raised ¬work eagle with spread wings. It is worked on an ivory silk ground. The stitches used are satin, long and short, outline, French knot, seed, and couching. The threads are silk, chenille, and metal.
The source of the design is "Charity," an image engraved by C. Stampa in London, 1802. Charity is one of the three theological virtues and is often represented as a female figure. The eagle was a national emblem of victory through the blessings of God, and is often found on other embroideries done at the Misses Patten’s school in Hartford, Connecticut. Misses Sarah, Ruth, and Mary Patten, along with their mother Ruth Wheelock Patten, operated a very successful girls’ school in Hartford, Connecticut from about 1785 to 1825.
Rachel Breck was born on July 22, 1792, to Joseph and Abigail Kingsley Breck of Northampton, Massachusetts. She married George Hooker on June 20, 1819, and they had eight children. Rachel died January 6, 1879, in Long Meadow, Massachusetts. She attended Deerfield Academy in 1806, but embroidered “Charity” at the Misses Patten’s school in Hartford, Connecticut.
The popularity of feathered hats led to the slaughter of millions of birds and endangered many species. In the late 1800s women activists launched a successful boycott and contributed to the founding of the National Audubon Society.
Volunteerism plays an important role in philanthropy in America. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed lives and homes in the Gulf Coast in 2005, many nonprofit groups organized volunteers to help the recovery effort. Jillian Gross led a team from Habitat for Humanity in rebuilding homes in Louisiana.
Description
The tool belt was used by Jillian Gross while working for Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit, non-government organization advocating affordable housing around the world. The belt is designed to carry tools and other items to keep handy on a job site. This brown canvas tool belt has suspenders to support the belt's weight, tool holders, pouches, a steel closure and grommeted holes to adjust the fit.
When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005, Jillian Gross had worked with Habitat for Humanity for three years learning woodworking and house-building skills. Groups such as Habitat for Humanity marshaled volunteers, tools and lumber to step in when it became clear that normal avenues of housing assistance were overwhelmed.
In November 2005, Habitat for Humanity launched “America Builds on the National Mall,” a demonstration house-building marathon in Washington, D.C. in which the basic components of 51 homes were assembled within a week and shipped to the Gulf Coast. Upon completion of the project Ms. Gross, one of the house building leaders during this event, donated her tool belt, tools and protective wear to the Smithsonian Institution.
The popularity of feathered hats led to the slaughter of millions of birds and endangered many species. In the late 1800s women activists launched a successful boycott and contributed to the founding of the National Audubon Society.