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.


-
frame and panel, brazilian rosewood
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1928
- Associated Name
- Bucher, William F.
- ID Number
- AG.28FP01
- catalog number
- 28FP01
- W3869
- accession number
- 100438
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1928-10-29
- plate date
- 1906-11-16
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Treat, Charles Henry
- Register of the Treasury
- Vernon, William Tecumseh
- issuing bank
- Columbia National Bank of Washington
- depicted
- McCulloch, Hugh
- McKinley, William
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.004478
- catalog number
- 297219.004478
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 3625
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Salad Fork
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1928
- owner; user
- Murray, Anne Wood
- maker
- International Silver Company
- ID Number
- 1983.0566.21
- accession number
- 1983.0566
- catalog number
- 1983.0566.21
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
(Bliss) Almanac for 1924
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1924
- Associated Name
- Alonzo O. Bliss Medical Company
- maker
- Alonzo O. Bliss Medical Company
- ID Number
- 2008.3006.106
- nonaccession number
- 2008.3006
- catalog number
- 2008.3006.106
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1922-12-28
- plate date
- 1906-01-10
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Treat, Charles Henry
- Register of the Treasury
- Lyons, Judson Whitlocke
- issuing bank
- National Metropolitan Bank of Washington
- depicted
- McKinley, William
- McCulloch, Hugh
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.004421
- catalog number
- 297219.004421
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 1069
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
dress, 1-piece
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1924
- used by
- Armstrong, Mary Marr
- ID Number
- CS.058673
- catalog number
- 58673
- accession number
- 207986
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Pamphlet, Factor Stencils
- Description
- This is a 1929 publication of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, written by D. N. Lehmer. It describes a set of factor stencils with museum number 1988.0316.01.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1929-06
- ID Number
- 1988.0316.03
- accession number
- 1988.0316
- catalog number
- 1988.0316.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Bowl
- Description
- Two-handled, circular bowl with everted rim, flared sides and round bottom on a straight tapered foot ring. Small, cast flowered-type handles are pierced with five voids. Underside of bottom struck incuse with small circular mark of Old Colony Pewter Makers.
- Firm's 1928 product catalog (also given by donor) notes this bowl was "patterned after a christening basin" into a functional accent piece, "exquisite" for holding flowers, fruit or desserts. It could be ordered with or without handles.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1928
- owner; user
- Murray, Anne Wood
- ID Number
- 1983.0566.01
- accession number
- 1983.0566
- catalog number
- 1983.0566.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-20 of the Commercial National Bank of Washington, DC, 1904
- Description
- National bank note proof of the Commercial National Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 7446. $10-10-10-20, 1904. The $10 note shows a portrait on the left of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, who was shot at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo and died September 14, 1901. The $20 note shows a portrait of Hugh McCulloch who was Comptroller of the Currency during the Civil War and later served as Secretary of the Treasury. These notes were from the Series of 1902. This bank was organized on October 18, 1904 and the plate that produced this proof sheet was approved for use on November 3. This bank absorbed the National City Bank of Washington, Charter 7936, in 1911. The Commercial National Bank itself went into receivership on February 28, 1933. That was a few days before Franklin Roosevelt was inaugurated President and promptly declared a bank holiday to prevent further runs on banks nationwide.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00548
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00548
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Box for Flatware
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1928
- purchaser; owner; user
- Murray, Anne Wood
- ID Number
- 1983.0566.33
- catalog number
- 1983.0566.33
- accession number
- 1983.0566
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Bookend
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1930
- ca 1922
- ID Number
- DL.67.0045A
- catalog number
- 67.0045A
- accession number
- 267510
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Sugar Cube Tray
- Description
- Long V-bottom holder supported on curvilinear triangular end plates with D- or ear-shaped handles, rectangular in section. No monogram or surface decoration. Inside face of one support struck incuse with "P & B" in three separate hearts above "PEWTER" at bottom left and "465" at bottom right.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1928
- owner; user
- Murray, Anne Wood
- ID Number
- 1983.0566.09
- accession number
- 1983.0566
- catalog number
- 1983.0566.09
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-20 of the National City Bank of Washington, DC, 1905
- Description
- National bank note proof of the National City Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 7936. $10-10-10-20, 1905. The $10 note shows a portrait on the left of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, who was shot at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo and died September 14, 1901. The $20 note shows a portrait of Hugh McCulloch who was Comptroller of the Currency during the Civil War and later served as Secretary of the Treasury. These notes were from the Series of 1902. This bank was organized in October, 1905 and was liquidated on May 1, 1911. Only one note is known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- 1905
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00549
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00549
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1927-11-12
- plate date
- 1910-01-17
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- McClung, Thomas Lee
- Register of the Treasury
- Vernon, William Tecumseh
- issuing bank
- Lincoln National Bank of Washington
- depicted
- McCulloch, Hugh
- McKinley, William
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.004490
- catalog number
- 297219.004490
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 4247
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Psychological Test, Test for Ability to Sell
- Description
- During the 1920s American psychologists proposed a wide range of tests for use by employers and educators. George Washington University psychology professor Fred August Moss (1893-1966), working with H. Wyle, W.M. Loman, and W. Middleton, prepared a set of tests to gauge “ability to sell.” These typed sheets give instructions to administering and scoring the test. Sections included judgment in selling situations, memory for names and faces, observation of behavior, learning selling points, following store directions, and selling problems (e.g. commercial arithmetic). An example of the test is not included. The material was published by the Center for Psychological Service at George Washington University and it became known as the “George Washington Test of Ability to Sell.”
- References:
- M. Asch, The Scope of Industrial Psychology, New Delhi: Sarup & Sons, 2004, p. 202.
- Gertrude H. Hildreth, A Bibliography of Mental Tests and Rating Scales, New York: Psychological Corporation, 1933, p. 179.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1929
- publisher
- George Washington University. Center for Psychological Service
- ID Number
- 1989.0710.08
- accession number
- 1989.0710
- catalog number
- 1989.0710.08
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Sugar Bowl
- Description
- Plain, two-handled, squat, ovoid sugar bowl on cylindrical, bead-molded base with an inset, almost flat cover topped by mushroom knop. Two, D- or ear-shaped handles. Underside of flat bottom struck with four incuse marks for maker and pattern. Sugar bowl and creamer set, 1983.0566.03-.04.
- Maker is Colonial Silver Co. of Portland, ME; in business, 1899-1943.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1928
- owner; user
- Murray, Anne Wood
- maker
- Colonial Silver Company
- ID Number
- 1983.0566.03
- accession number
- 1983.0566
- catalog number
- 1983.0566.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Teaspoon
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1928
- owner; user
- Murray, Anne Wood
- maker
- International Silver Company
- ID Number
- 1983.0566.24
- accession number
- 1983.0566
- catalog number
- 1983.0566.24
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1920-03-27
- plate date
- 1909-09-08
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Treat, Charles Henry
- Register of the Treasury
- Vernon, William Tecumseh
- issuing bank
- District National Bank of Washington
- depicted
- McKinley, William
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.004526
- catalog number
- 297219.004526
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 9545
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1926-12-20
- plate date
- 1912-01-16
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- McClung, Thomas Lee
- Register of the Treasury
- Napier, James Carroll
- issuing bank
- Farmers and Mechanics National Bank of Washington
- depicted
- Harrison, Benjamin
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.004441
- catalog number
- 297219.004441
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 1928
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Dinner or Table Fork
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1928
- owner; user
- Murray, Anne Wood
- maker
- International Silver Company
- ID Number
- 1983.0566.18
- accession number
- 1983.0566
- catalog number
- 1983.0566.18
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Pages
Filter Your Results
Click to remove a filter:
- data source
-
topic
- Furnishings 39
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-DC 32
- Washington D.C. 30
- Colonial revival (Architecture) 23
- Food habits 20
- Photography 7
- Smoking 7
- Tobacco Use 7
- Beverages 6
- Clothing and dress 6
- Dress accessories 6
- Mathematics 5
- Tea Drinking 5
- Christmas 4
- Holidays 4
- Science 4
- Trees 4
- Architecture 3
- Coffee Drinking 3
- Food Culture 3
-
object type
- Certified Proof 32
- Exchange Medium 32
- Face 32
- Money 32
- certified proof 32
- Cutlery 20
- Proof sheet 15
- Spoons 9
- Forks (flatware) 8
- ornament, christmas tree 6
- Knives 5
- Photographs 5
- Pipe; Smoking Equipment 4
- pipe, tobacco 4
- Flatware 3
- Ornament; Decoration 3
- model, straight lever 3
- photograph & frame 3
- Bookends 2
- Dress, 1-Piece 2
- date
- place
- culture
-
set name
- Home and Community Life: Domestic Life 54
- Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection 48
- Coins, Currency and Medals 47
- Domestic Furnishings 39
- Photography 7
- Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering 7
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics 5
- National Museum of American History 5
- Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Military 4
- Science & Mathematics 4
- Work and Industry: Photographic History 4
- Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure 2
- Home and Community Life: Costume 2
- Military 2
- Music & Musical Instruments 2
- Price of Freedom 2
- Tabulating Equipment 2
- ThinkFinity 2
- Work and Industry: Agriculture 2
- Work and Industry: Agriculture and Natural Resources 2