Natural Resources
The natural resources collections offer centuries of evidence about how Americans have used the bounty of the American continent and coastal waters. Artifacts related to flood control, dam construction, and irrigation illustrate the nation's attempts to manage the natural world. Oil-drilling, iron-mining, and steel-making artifacts show the connection between natural resources and industrial strength.
Forestry is represented by saws, axes, a smokejumper's suit, and many other objects. Hooks, nets, and other gear from New England fisheries of the late 1800s are among the fishing artifacts, as well as more recent acquisitions from the Pacific Northwest and Chesapeake Bay. Whaling artifacts include harpoons, lances, scrimshaw etchings in whalebone, and several paintings of a whaler's work at sea. The modern environmental movement has contributed buttons and other protest artifacts on issues from scenic rivers to biodiversity.
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Tall Case Clock
- Description
- The earliest domestic clocks in the American colonies were English-made "lantern" clocks, with brass gear trains held between pillars. Along with fully furnished "best" beds, looking glasses, sofas, silver, and case furniture, such clocks were the household objects consistently assigned the highest monetary value in inventories of possessions.
- By the 18th century, the most common style of domestic clock came to look more like a piece of household furniture. A wooden case enclosed the movement, weights, and pendulum. Through a glass window the dial was visible.
- In 1769, Pennsylvania clockmaker and millwright Joseph Ellicott completed this complicated tall case clock. On three separate dials, it tells the time and shows the phases of the moon; depicts on an orrery the motions of the sun, moon, and planets; and plays selected twenty-four musical tunes on the hour.
- The musical dial on the Ellicott clock allows the listener to choose from twelve pairs of tunes. Each pair includes a short tune and a long one. On the hour only the short tune plays, but every third hour, both play. During a tune, automaton figures at the top of the dial appear to tap their feet in time to the music, and a small dog between them jumps up and down.
- Joseph Ellicott moved from the Philadelphia area to Maryland in 1772 and, with his brothers Andrew and John, set up a flour-milling operation in what is now Ellicott City. The clock was a centerpiece in Ellicott family homes for generations.
- Who else owned clocks in early America? Clock owners, like the American colonists themselves, were not a homogeneous group. Where a person lived influenced the probability of owning a timepiece. In 1774, for example, New Englanders and Middle Atlantic colonials were equally likely to own a timepiece. In those regions, roughly 13 or 14 adults out of 100 had a clock in their possessions when they died. Among Southern colonists at that time, only about 6 in 100 had a clock.
- Date made
- 1769
- user
- Ellicott, Joseph
- maker
- Ellicott, Joseph
- ID Number
- 1999.0276.01
- accession number
- 1999.0276
- catalog number
- 1999.0276.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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David and Goliath
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1763
- ID Number
- CL.65.1142
- catalog number
- 65.1142
- accession number
- 256396
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Mug
- Description
- Oversized, raised bulbous or bellied cann or mug engraved "JAW" on front in shaded conjoined foliate script. Applied molded rim, rounded bottom, and cast stepped circular foot. Hollow, double C-scroll handle has a plain, cyma-curved upper terminal attached at rim and lower heel terminal with large circular attachment on belly and rectangular vent in underside. Shaded serif initials erased from face of handle "(P?) / (I?)*E". Struck once on bottom underside at centerpoint "I•L" in raised serif letters in a rounded-corner square, and once on lower face of handle "I•L" beneath a ring, all in a conforming surround.
- Maker is John Leacock, Jr. (1729-1802) of Philadelphia, PA; working, circa 1750-1767. A successful gold and silversmith, Leacock purchased an estate in nearby Lower Merion, PA, and retired from the trade to take up agricultural pursuits, including viticulture. He was active in the Revolutionary cause as a popular playwright and parodist, and served as coroner of Philadelphia from 1785 until his death.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1750-1767
- ID Number
- DL.383540
- catalog number
- 383540
- accession number
- 162866
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Philadelphia Contributionship 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 Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire issued this fire mark around 1760. The faded number at the bottom of the shield is possibly 1316. Policy 1316 was issued on August 7, 1769 to John Bissell, who owned a house situated on the east side of 3rd Street in Philadelphia. The fire mark consists of the company’s symbol cast in lead showing four hands clasped at the wrist attached to a shield-shaped wooden backing. The Philadelphia Contributionship was established in 1752, becoming the first successful fire insurance company in America. Benjamin Franklin was one of its founding members. The Contributionship began as a mutual insurance company and this concept is represented by its “Hand in Hand” fire mark. The Philadelphia Contributionship is still in operation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1760
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0351
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0351
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Philadelphia Contributionship 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 Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire issued this fire mark for policy number 614 to Mathias LePolt of 36 North 3rd Street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1760. The fire mark consists of the company’s symbol cast in lead showing four hands clasped at the wrist attached to a shield-shaped wooden backing. The Philadelphia Contributionship was established in 1752, becoming the first successful fire insurance company in America. Benjamin Franklin was one of its founding members. The Contributionship began as a mutual insurance company and this concept is represented by its “Hand in Hand” fire mark. The Philadelphia Contributionship is still in operation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1761
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0352
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0352
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mug
- Description
- Raised bulbous or bellied cann or mug engraved on front with an equestrian portrait depicting a jockey or rider with crop, facing left, seated astride a horse facing left. Flared rim scored around exterior, rounded bottom, and cast flared circular foot. Hollow, double C-scroll handle has a scrolled acanthus leaf on top and a split scroll lower terminal; short oval struts and stepped attachments. Bottom underside is struck twice, once above and below the centerpoint, "WH" in raised script in a serrated and conforming surround; "von Krafft." engraved in script below, with additional script possibly erased.
- Maker is William Hollingshead of Philadelphia, w. circa 1757-1785.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1760
- ID Number
- DL.64.0763
- catalog number
- 64.0763
- accession number
- 253338
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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chair, wing
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1750 - 1760
- ID Number
- DL.391790
- catalog number
- 391790
- accession number
- 71679
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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chest
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1764
- ID Number
- CL.61.1116
- accession number
- 233723
- catalog number
- 61.1116
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Philadelphia Contributionship 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 Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire issued this fire mark for policy number 1029 to Martin Flick of 24 Queen Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1765. The fire mark consists of the company’s symbol cast in lead showing four hands clasped at the wrist attached to a shield-shaped wooden backing. The Philadelphia Contributionship was established in 1752, becoming the first successful fire insurance company in America. Benjamin Franklin was one of its founding members. The Contributionship began as a mutual insurance company and this concept is represented by its “Hand in Hand” fire mark. The Philadelphia Contributionship is still in operation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1765
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0346
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0346
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Philadelphia Contributionship 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 Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire issued this fire mark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1765. The fire mark consists of the company’s symbol cast in lead showing four hands clasped at the wrist attached to a shield-shaped wooden backing. The Philadelphia Contributionship was established in 1752, becoming the first successful fire insurance company in America. Benjamin Franklin was one of its founding members. The Contributionship began as a mutual insurance company and this concept is represented by its “Hand in Hand” fire mark. The Philadelphia Contributionship is still in operation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1765
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0347
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0347
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Stove Plate or Fireback
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1763
- ID Number
- CL.65.1140
- catalog number
- 65.1140
- accession number
- 256396
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Philadelphia Contributionship 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 Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire issued this fire mark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1760. The fire mark consists of the company’s symbol cast in lead showing four hands clasped at the wrist attached to a shield-shaped wooden backing. The Philadelphia Contributionship was established in 1752 as the first fire insurance company in America, and included Benjamin Franklin as one of its founding members. The Contributionship was a mutual assurance company, represented by its “Hand in Hand” fire mark.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1760
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0349
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0349
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Philadelphia Contributionship 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 Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire issued this fire mark for policy number 1904 to Robert Fulton of 121 South Second Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1765. The fire mark consists of the company’s symbol cast in lead showing four hands clasped at the wrist attached to a shield-shaped wooden backing. The Philadelphia Contributionship was established in 1752, becoming the first successful fire insurance company in America. Benjamin Franklin was one of its founding members. The Contributionship began as a mutual insurance company and this concept is represented by its “Hand in Hand” fire mark. The Philadelphia Contributionship is still in operation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1765
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0348
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0348
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Spirit of Prayer ...
- Description (Brief)
- Pamphlet, stitched. An Extract from a Treatise by William Law, M. A. called The Spirit of Prayer...
- Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin and D. Hall, 1760.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1760
- associated date
- 1760
- printer
- Franklin, Benjamin
- ID Number
- GA.16523
- catalog number
- 16523
- accession number
- 118225
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Porringer
- Description
- Bowl-shaped porringer with bulging sides, slightly angled rim, and large boss bottom with narrow rounded gutter; cast handle is pierced in a keyhole pattern with 13 voids and engraved on front "E+H" in serif letters facing in. Struck three times along rim exterior and bottom inside "PS" in raised serif letters inside a curvilinear shield. Weight engraved on bottom underside "oz / 8=8". Centerpoint on bottom underside.
- Maker is Philip Syng, Jr. (1703-1789); working, 1742-1772. Born in Cork, Ireland, and emigrated with family to Philadelphia, PA, in 1714.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- before 1767
- ID Number
- 1980.0466.01
- accession number
- 1980.0466
- catalog number
- 1980.0466.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Strainer
- Description
- Raised hemispherical bowl with an applied molded rim, under which is attached a cast handle pierced in a keyhole pattern having 10 voids. Bottom of bowl is pierced with small holes arranged with one at center encircled by two concentric circles and three rows of scallops or petals. Struck once on underside of handle "IB" in raised serif letters in a rounded rectangle.
- Maker is John Bayly of Philadelphia, PA; active 1754-1783. His son, John Bayly Jr., was also a silversmith who worked in Philadelphia and New Castle Co., DE.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1765
- ID Number
- DL.383485
- catalog number
- 383485
- accession number
- 162866
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Philadelphia Contributionship 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 Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire issued this fire mark to a customer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1760. The fire mark consists of the company’s symbol cast in lead showing four hands clasped at the wrist attached to a shield-shaped wooden backing. The Philadelphia Contributionship was established in 1752, becoming the first successful fire insurance company in America. Benjamin Franklin was one of its founding members. The Contributionship began as a mutual insurance company and this concept is represented by its “Hand in Hand” fire mark. The Philadelphia Contributionship is still in operation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1760
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0350
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0350
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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