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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Miner's Carbide Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp is a horizontal tank Grier with an S-shaped water lever, manufactured around 1916. The Grier Brothers of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania began manufacturing carbide mining lamps in 1911. Their finances took a fatal blow in 1922 when the Supreme Court ruled against them for patent infringement in Baldwin & Simmons v. Grier Brothers. By 1924, the Gem Manufacturing Company had bought the Griers' stock of mining lamps.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9798
- accession number
- 066474
- catalog number
- MHI-MH-9798
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Carbide Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp was made by A.l. Hansen Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois in the late 1920’s. Augie L. Hansen was a prolific lamp designer for the Justrite Manufacturing Company from 1911-1919 before leaving to start his own manufacturing company in Chicago in 1920.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9614
- accession number
- 282789
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9614
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This electric cap lamp was made by the Concordia Electric Co. The lamp was powered by a battery enclosed in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord, protected by a steel spring where it comes out of the battery, connected the battery to the cap lamp. This lamp is marked as permissible by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and has an added cord for plugging into an electric outlet. This picture show the lamp attached to the miner’s cap.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-2683 [dup1]
- accession number
- 115674
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-2683
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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mining lamp
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN79844Z61
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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mining lamp
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN79844Z62
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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mining lamp
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN79844Z67
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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MSA Skullgard Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This Skullgard helmet was manufactured by the Mine Safety Appliances Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 20th century. The Skullgard brand helmet was developed by MSA in 1930. The hat is made of Bakelite plastic with a leather and metal lamp bracket is attached to the front of the helmet, which probably would have held an electric lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-2681
- accession number
- 115672
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-2681
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Cap
- Description (Brief)
- This canvas mining cap has a red plastic brim with a metal and cardboard lamp bracket. There is a handwritten inscription on the top of the hat that reads: Harrisburg, Pa. / January 17, 1939 / Inaguration oF / Aurthur H. James. Underneath that inscription is a variety of handwritten names: John / Ethel / Frank / Tessie / Francess / Emily. The sides of the cap have the words “JAMES/LUZERNE COUNTY” in large printed letters. A red and white sticker on the lamp bracket reads “JOHN / GAVENONIS / 127 / PIERCE ST. / PLY. PA.” The signatures on this mining cap speak to the personal connections miner’s had with their cap. A miner chose their headgear, and took it with them to work where it was worn all day and used for decades.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9405
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9405
- accession number
- 271417
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Cap
- Description (Brief)
- This canvas miner’s cap has a leather brim, with a leather and metal lamp bracket attached to the front. The lamp bracket could have held either an oil-wick lamp or a carbide lamp. Two blue stripes encircle the cap. Canvas caps provided minor protection from bumps, but mainly allowed the miner to hang a lamp from the cap, insuring a portable light source close to the work.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7730
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7730
- accession number
- 234625
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This plastic mining helmet was made during the 20th century. The dark black helmet has a metal and leather lamp bracket on its front. The bracket likely held either an oil-wick lamp or a carbide lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7929
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7929
- accession number
- 237120
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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MSA Comfo-Cap Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This plastic Comfo-Cap brand miner’s helmet was manufactured by the Mine Safety Appliance Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 20th century. The MSA Company first registered their trademark for the Comfo-Cap in 1935 and continues to produce the helmet into the 21st century. The front of the helmet has a bracket for either a carbide mining lamp or electric lamp. This mining helmet has a low profile to avoid bumps, hard plastic to absorb impact, and its flat front served as an excellent mount for mining lights.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8097C
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8097C
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This Model "K" lamp was manufactured in 1931 by the Edison Storage Battery Company. The Edison Cap Lamp consisted of a battery encased in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled to the cap lamp, and its entrance into the battery was protected by a flexible steel cover. The battery could power the six-candlepower lamps for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7874
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7874
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This battery-powered cap lamp was manufactured by Oldham and Sons, of Denton, Manchester, U.K in the early 20th century. The battery is encased in metal and the cord connects the battery to the lamp, which was worn on a mining cap. Oldham was originally a general engineering firm, founded in 1865, but began producing mining products in 1887.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8035
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8035
- accession number
- 236603
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp was powered by a battery enclosed in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord, protected by a steel cover at both ends, connected the battery to the cap lamp. The battery could power the six-candlepower lamps for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. This lamp has an added cord for plugging into an electric outlet.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-002683B
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-002683B
- accession number
- 115674
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp consisted of a battery encased in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled to the cap lamp, and was protected by a flexible steel cover at its entrance into both the battery and lamp. The battery could power the six-candlepower lamp for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. This lamp is a Model "P."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7945
- accession number
- 240639
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7945
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Electric Cap lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This battery-powered mining cap lamp was manufactured by McGraw-Edison in the mid-20th century. In 1957, Thomas A. Edison Incorporated merged with the McGraw Electric Company to form the McGraw-Edison Company. This lamp consists of a battery in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord connects the battery to the lamp, which was worn on a mining cap.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8117B
- accession number
- 240639
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8117B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp consisted of a battery encased in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled to the cap lamp, and was protected by a flexible steel cover on its entrance into the battery. The battery could power the six candlepower lamp for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. The battery is a Model "E" and the lamp is a Model "H.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8038
- accession number
- 236603
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8038
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp consisted of a battery encased in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled to the cap lamp, and was protected by a flexible steel cover on its entrance into both the battery and lamp. The battery could power the six candlepower lamp for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. This lamp has a Model "E" battery with a Model "F" head.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8036
- accession number
- 236603
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8036
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp was powered by a battery enclosed in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord, protected by a steel cover at both ends, connected the battery to the cap lamp. The battery could power the six-candlepower lamp for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7948
- accession number
- 240639
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7948
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- The Koehler Manufacturing Company produced this battery-powered cap lamp during the first half of the 20th century. Inventor Grant Wheat designed this lamp, leading to this type of lamp being called a “Wheat Lamp.” The battery is encased in a self-locking black plastic case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled from the battery to the lamp, which was worn on a mining cap. The red case reads “Wheat/Koehler MFG. CO.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8955
- accession number
- 260128
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8955
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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