Military
The Museum's superb military collections document the history of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States. The collections include ordnance, firearms, and swords; uniforms and insignia; national and military flags and banners; and many other objects.
The strength of the collections lies in their enormous depth. Some 3,000 military small arms and 2,400 civilian firearms document the mechanical and technological history of the infantryman's weapons from the beginning of the gunpowder era to the present. Among the 4,000 swords and knives in the collection are many spectacular presentation pieces. The collections also include Civil War era telegraph equipment, home front artifacts from both world wars, early computers such as ENIAC, Whirlwind, and Sage, and materials carried at antiwar demonstrations.
4,382
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Painted Canteen
- Description
- Physical Description
- Round metal painted with camp scene.
- Specific History
- This canteen was said to have been used at Gettysburg.
- General History
- The scene painted on this canteen is a snapshot of camp life, preserved as a memento of the war like a letter home or a diary entry. At right, a soldier appears to be on guard duty beside a tent over which flies an American flag. To the left, another soldier sits on a log before a fire. The scene evokes the rituals and chores of camp life: pitching tents, standing guard, gathering firewood, and preparing food. Soldiers accustomed to the orderliness of camp life as depicted here faced a stark contrast when they entered battle at Gettysburg and other chaotic killing grounds. Memories of camp and its monotonous routine could be soothing to men who endured grueling campaigns, which may explain why this unknown soldier-artist chose to depict that theme on an object that meant much to him.
- ID Number
- 1996.0340.01
- accession number
- 1996.0340
- catalog number
- 1996.0340.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Union Mounted Greatcoat
- Description
- Physical Description
- Sky-blue wool, double breasted, stand and fall collar with over cape to top of cuffs. Gold-colored buttons.
- General History
- Union cavalry and mounted artillery soldiers were issued greatcoats to be worn over their uniforms during the winter months.
- date made
- 1858-1865
- ID Number
- 1997.3044.277
- nonaccession number
- 1997.3044
- catalog number
- 1997.3044.277
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Bookmark, "Keep `Um Flying"
- Description
- Handmade objects used in camp demonstrated patriotism and support, especially for the troops belonging to the 442nd.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1944
- ID Number
- 1986.3144.53
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3144
- catalog number
- 1986.3144.53
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Beretta M1934 Semiautomatic Pistol
- Location
- Currently not on view
- licensee
- Beretta, P.
- maker
- Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta
- ID Number
- AF.59523M
- catalog number
- 59523M
- accession number
- 214893
- serial number
- 887416
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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"Want Action? Join U.S. Marine Corps!" Poster
- Description
- Physical Description
- Four-color print on paper.
- Specific History
- James Montgomery Flagg, the creator of this poster, was born in New York in 1877. As a child he began to draw and sold his first picture at the age of twelve. Two years later he was contributing to Life magazine and at fifteen was on the staff of the The Judge. Flagg studied at the Art Students League in New York. When he was twenty, he spent a year working in London before moving to France. Flagg was one of America's leading illustrators. His illustrations were in Photoplay, McClure's Magazine, Collier's Weekly, Ladies' Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Saturday Evening Post, and Harper's Weekly. During the World War I Flagg designed forty-six posters for the government. His most famous work is the Uncle Sam poster with the caption "I Want You for the U.S. Army." An adapted version of this poster was also used during the World War II. Flagg died in 1960.
- General History
- Posters during World War II were designed to instill in people a positive outlook, a sense of patriotism, and confidence. They linked the war in trenches with the war at home. From a practical point, they were used to encourage all Americans to help with the war effort. The posters called on every man, woman, and child to endure the personal sacrifice and domestic adjustments to further the national agenda. They encouraged rationing, conservation, and sacrifice. In addition, the posters were used for recruitment, productivity, and motivation as well as for financing the war effort. The stark, colorful graphic designs elicited strong emotions. The posters played to the fears, frustrations, and faith in freedoms that lingered in people's minds during the war.
- date made
- 1942
- artist
- Flagg, James Montgomery
- ID Number
- AF.59744-N(19)
- catalog number
- 59744-N(19)
- accession number
- 303735
- 303735
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Confederate Waist Belt Plate, South Carolina
- Description
- This is an example of a Confederate waist belt plate. The circular emblem in the center of the oak leaf wreath depicts a palmetto tree. The palmetto is also a central symbol in the state seal of South Carolina.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AF.60623M
- catalog number
- 60623M
- collector/donor number
- 379
- accession number
- 223708
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Shako
- Description
- Charleston Light Infantry cap, 1860.
- Among the conspicuous items worn by militiamen when the conflict began were shakos-- tall hats that could make soldiers prominent targets in battle. The prevailing tactics, however, called for opposing ranks to open fire on each other at close range, in which case even soldiers wearing inconspicuous clothing were plainly visible to their opponents. A greater danger was the deadly confusion that resulted when troops in motley dress were unable to tell friends from foes.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1860-1890
- ID Number
- AF.61065M
- catalog number
- 61065M
- accession number
- 223708
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Nicholson Over and Under Pistol
- Description
- Physical Description
- British Nicholson barrel box-lock over-and-under pistol, .44 caliber.
- Specific History
- This pistol was donated by Blanche Rotchford who stated it was "My Revolutionary flint lock pistol with which my ancestors fought for freedom from England."
- General History
- The over-and-under barrel box-lock allows this pistol to be fired twice before reloading. A lever positions the barrel box to open and fire the top barrel and can be repositioned to open and fire the lower barrel.
- date made
- ca 1770
- maker
- Nicholson, William
- ID Number
- AF.66614M
- accession number
- 229200
- catalog number
- 066614M
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Shell jacket
- Description
- As cloth grew scarce in the South, the long frock coat gave way to a shorter sack coat or more often to a shell jacket, which became standard issued in the Confederate Army. This jacket belonged to George William Ramsay of the 17th Regiment of the Virginia Infantry.
- associated date
- 1861-1865
- ID Number
- AF.67633M
- catalog number
- 67633M
- accession number
- 220760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Moschetto Aut-Beretta Model 1938A-Patent Submachinegun
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1938
- licensee
- Marengoni
- maker
- Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta
- ID Number
- AF.68835M
- catalog number
- 68835M
- accession number
- 258560
- serial number
- 8664A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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