RevolutionCrossroads/si_us_revolutionary_era_collections huggingface dataset:
contract, indenture
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Indenture
contract, indenture
date made: 1804-02-06
associated date: 1804
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 13 in x 8 1/2 in; 33.02 cm x 21.59 cm
Topics: Education
Business
naturalization certificate
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: naturalization certificate
Date made: 1808
Topics: Emigration and immigration
Migrations
Citizenship
Machine knitted wool/worsted stockinette; John E. Hanifen & Co.; PA; 19th C.
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fabric; knitted
fabric length, knitted
Date made: 1800-1899
maker: Hanifen and Company, John E.
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Measurements: overall: 32 in x 36 1/2 in; 81.28 cm x 92.71 cm
Description: Length of machine knitted wool & worsted stockinette cloth; John E. Hanifen & Co.; PA; 19th C.
NII.0530. Old Cat # H6242. New catalog # E186242. Acc. # 15124. Source: John E. Hanifen & Co. Stockinette cloth; machine knit with worsted and woolen yarns; manufactured by John E. Hanifen and Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 19th c. Displayed on the Peddler's Cart in the Bicentennial exhibition, "A Nation of Nations," until 1988.
plane
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Plane
Plane; Stonecutter/Stone Dresser; Stoneworking; Planing Tools; Hand Tools
Date made: 1773
associated user: unknown
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
carved and dated 1773 (overall production method/technique)
American Definition Spelling Book
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Book
Books
Date made: 1809
author: Kneeland, Abner
printer; publisher: Hough, George
Place Made: United States: Massachusetts, Concord
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
wood (overall material)
leather (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 6 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 5/8 in; 16.51 cm x 11.43 cm x 1.5875 cm
Credit line: Gift of LaVita Barnett
Topics: Education
Map of the Pilgrim's Progress
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Sheet, Lithograph
print
map
sheet
Etching
Date made: c. 1850
date made: ca 1800
graphic artist: Melish, John
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Measurements: overall: 46.6 cm x 56.8 cm; 18 11/32 in x 22 3/8 in
Topics: Communications
Religion
window, church
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Window, Church
Date made: c. 1790
date used: 1800 - 1899
location where used: United States: New England
Physical Description: glass (overall material)
paint (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 51 1/2 in x 33 in x 7/8 in; 130.81 cm x 83.82 cm x 2.2225 cm
overall: 71 in x 46 in x 19 in; 180.34 cm x 116.84 cm x 48.26 cm
Topics: Religion
Protestantism
birth and baptismal certificate, fraktur
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Document
certificate
fraktur
Letterpress
date made: ca 1774
associated date: 1801 01 06
associated user: unknown
unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 16 in x 13 in; 40.64 cm x 33.02 cm
Topics: Communications
birth and baptismal certificate
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Document
print
certificate
fraktur
certificate, marriage
certificate, fraktur
Pen and Ink
Letterpress
date made: 1807
associated date: 1807 10 30
associated user: unknown
unknown
graphic artist: Krebs, Johann Jacob Friedrich
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 13 in x 16 in; 33.02 cm x 40.64 cm
Topics: Communications
Religion
birth and baptismal certificate
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Document
certificate
fraktur
Pen and Ink
date made: 1773
associated date: 1773 03 21
associated user: unknown
unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 8 1/4 in x 13 1/2 in; 20.955 cm x 34.29 cm
Topics: Communications
Religion
copy book letter learning
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Documents, Pair of
document
certificate
fraktur
fraktur vorschriften
Pen and Ink
date made: ca 1783
associated date: 1783 03 18
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 7 1/2 in x 12 1/2 in; 19.05 cm x 31.75 cm
Topics: Communications
Religion
O Wie Schoen ...
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Bookplate
document
fraktur
Pen and Ink
date made: ca 1800
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 10 1/2 in x 15 1/4 in; 26.67 cm x 38.735 cm
Topics: Communications
birth and baptismal certificate
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Document
certificate
fraktur
Pen and Ink
date made: 1808
associated date: 1808 07 30
associated user: unknown
unknown
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 13 in x 16 in; 33.02 cm x 40.64 cm
Topics: Communications
Religion
birth and baptismal certificate
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Document
certificate
fraktur
Pen and Ink
date made: 1808
associated date: 1808 10 02
associated user: unknown
unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 13 in x 16 in; 33.02 cm x 40.64 cm
Topics: Communications
Religion
birth and baptismal certificate
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Document
certificate
fraktur
Pen and Ink
Letterpress
date made: ca 1797
associated date: 1788 06 19
associated user: unknown
unknown
graphic artist: Krebs, Johann Jacob Friedrich
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 13 in x 16 in; 33.02 cm x 40.64 cm
Topics: Communications
Religion
copy book letter learning
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Document
fraktur
document
fraktur vorschriften
Pen and Ink
date made: ca 1800
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 6 1/4 in x 7 in; 15.875 cm x 17.78 cm
Topics: Communications
Religion
Fishing Tackle Wallet
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: wallet, fishing
date made: ca 1800
used: United Kingdom: England
United Kingdom: Scotland
Physical Description: leather (overall material)
silver (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 6 1/4 in x 3 in x 1 1/4 in; 15.875 cm x 7.62 cm x 3.175 cm
Credit line: Eula B. Lewis
Topics: recreational
Fishing
Sports
bracelet
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Bracelet
Date made: 1779 - 1809
place made: Canada: Quebec, Montreal
location where used: Canada
United States
Physical Description: metal, silver (overall material)
engraved (overall production method/technique)
ridged (overall production method/technique)
Measurements: overall: 1 in x 2 1/4 in; 2.54 cm x 5.715 cm
earring
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Earring
Date made: 1779 - 1809
place made: Canada: Quebec, Montreal
location where used: Canada
United States
Physical Description: metal, silver (overall material)
curved (overall production method/technique)
engraved (overall production method/technique)
Measurements: overall: 2 3/8 in; x 6.0325 cm
pendant
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Pendant
Date made: 1790
location where used: Canada
United States
used: Canada: Ontarian, Kingsville
Physical Description: metal, silver (overall material)
engraved (overall production method/technique)
Measurements: overall: 1 in x 1 1/4 in; 2.54 cm x 3.175 cm
Torah Mantle
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: cover
mantle, Torah
Date made: 1785 - 1786
Place Made: Germany: Baden-Württemberg, Wenkheim
Physical Description: cotton (overall material)
metal (overall material)
silk (overall material)
linen (overall material)
metallic thread (overall material)
wood (overall material)
paper (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 34 1/4 in x 15 1/2 in x 1 3/8 in; 86.995 cm x 39.37 cm x 3.4925 cm
Credit line: Gift of Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco), 1987
Publisher: Grossman, Grace Cohen, with Richard Eighme Ahlborn. Judaica at the Smithsonian: Cultural Politics as Cultural Model
Myers, Susan H.. Promise of A New Life: Jewish Immigrants in America, 1820-1880, The
Topics: Emigration and immigration
California Gold Rush
Migrations
Religion
Judaism
Gold mines and mining
Description: Made in Wenkheim, Germany, this silk Torah mantle was brought to San Francisco by Jewish immigrants during the California gold rush and presented to Congregation Emanu-El. Founded in 1850, Emanu-El (Hebrew for "God is with us") was one of the first synagogues in San Francisco. It provided a spiritual and social community for German and central European Jews who came to California in search of economic opportunities and political freedom.
כִּי אֵל עֶלְיוֹן וְדוֹדָלוּתוֹ נִרְאֵה בִּרְבִּיבָהּ כִּי יִצְמַח לוֹ שֵׁם וְיִתְקַדְּשֶׁנּוּ בַּשֵּׁם וְיִתְקַדְּשֶׁנּוּ
waistcoat
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Waistcoat
Date made: 1785-1810
date made: 1800-1820
wearer: Gansevoort, Peter
used in: United States: New York, Albany
Measurements: center back: 29 in; 73.66 cm
overall length, sh seam/cf hem: 71 cm; 27 15/16 in
shoulder straps: 9 cm; x 3 9/16 in
collar, total height, stand plus fall: 7.2 cm; 2 13/16 in
neck opening, neck edge/top button: 9.8 cm; 3 7/8 in
buttons, diameter: 1.3 cm; x 1/2 in
buttons, span: 38.5 cm; 15 3/16 in
lowest button, above base: 8 cm; 3 1/8 in
waist pocket welts: 3 cm x 18.5 cm; 1 3/16 in x 7 5/16 in
waist pockets, depth: 15 cm; x 5 7/8 in
waist pocket welts, above base: 17 cm; 6 11/16 in
center back (including collar): 29 in; 73.66 cm
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Abraham Lansing
Description: Natural-colored cotton (?) waistcoat, woven with tone-on-tone satin stripes; turn-down stand collar; 12 flat self-covered buttons, beginning several inches below the neck edge; gently curved hemline, with center front corners truncated below the lowest button; two wide, barely crescentic waist pocket welts; center front edges are self-faced; fully lined and backed in natural linen; three pairs of ties at center back; 4.75" notch at center back hem.
Chinese Export
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Teapot
Date made: ca. 1770
maker: unknown
place made: China
Spanish Miquelet Lock Pistol
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Pistol
pistol, miquelet lock
Date made: ca. 1800
Measurements: overall: 15 3/4 in x 6 3/8 in x 2 1/2 in; 40.005 cm x 16.1925 cm x 6.35 cm
Credit line: Ralph G. Packard
['' None '' None None None None 'AF*43513' None]
Jones frictional plate electrostatic generator
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Electrostatic machine
electrostatic generator
date made: ca 1800
maker: W. & S. Jones
Measurements: overall: 17 in x 12 in x 12 in; 43.18 cm x 30.48 cm x 30.48 cm
Credit line: from Columbia University, Department of Physics, thru Alvin P. Tramm
Description (Brief): People from ancient times knew that rubbing certain materials and then touching something caused a spark. Studying what is called electrostatics laid the groundwork for understanding electricity and magnetism. Natural philosophers, scientists, and instrument makers created many ingenious devices to generate electrostatic charges starting in the 1600s. These machines varied in size and technique but all involved rotary motion to generate a charge, and a means of transferring the charge to a storage device for use.
In the latter 1700s electrical researchers adopted improved electrostatic machines that replaced earlier glass cylinders with a flat glass plate. This increased the machines’ efficiency by passing the glass plate between leather rubbing pads that increased the contact area. Experience with plate machines brought many design variations with sizes ranging from small table-top units for laboratory use to large cabinets that powered early x-ray machines.
This portable plate machine comes from the shop of William and Samuel Jones, instrument makers in London. William Jones (1763-1831) founded the company in 1787 to make various scientific devices. His younger brother Samuel (d.1859) joined the firm four years later. The "K2A3" marking on the machine’s base was the Columbia University property number.
The single plate rubs against two pairs of leather pads set at top and bottom of the frame. The points on the brass arm gather the charge from the plate and transfer that charge to the brass ball that is mounted on top of a Leyden jar. A quadrant electrometer mounted on top indicates the amount of charge on the jar. A pith ball on a string hangs on the electrometer in front of a scale. Electrical charges of the same polarity repel and since the electrometer is charged along with the jar, the ball moves away from the jar. The higher the charge the further the ball moves up the scale. Leyden jars were discovered in 1742; a key step in modern electrical science. Then called condensers and now known as capacitors, these jars can store a charge but unlike batteries do not generate a current.
Edelcrantz semaphore tower model
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Model, Semaphore Telegraph
semaphore model
Date made: 1794
Measurements: overall: 44 1/4 in x 14 in x 14 1/2 in; 112.395 cm x 35.56 cm x 36.83 cm
Horizontal Pedestal Sundial Signed Chandlee
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Sundial, Horizontal Pedestal
date made: ca 1810
date inscribed: 1860s
maker: Chandlee, Goldsmith
place made: United States: Virginia, Winchester
Physical Description: pewter (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 6.5 cm x 13.1 cm x 13.1 cm; 2 9/16 in x 5 5/32 in x 5 5/32 in
Topics: Civil War, 1861-1865
American Civil War (1861-1865)
Mathematics
Timekeeping
Description: A pewter instrument with square base & fixed gnomon extending at an angle of about 40 degrees. The circular hour scale runs clockwise from V to XII to I to VII and is subdivided into quarter-hours. There is a hole in each corner of the base, but no pedestal.
The vendor received the dial from the owners of Dearmont Hall, a early 19th c. home on Opecquon Creek in Clark County, Virginia. Marks scratched on the dial are said to be names carved by Civil War soldiers. Chandlee of Winchester is probably Goldsmith Chandlee (ca. 1746-1821), a Maryland-born Quaker instrument-maker who moved to Virginia in 1775 and soon set up his own shop in Winchester. He died there in 1821. See E.E. Chandlee, <I>Six Quaker Clockmakers</I>, Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1943, 105-137. Winchester is at a latitude of slightly over 39 degrees, as is Clarke County.
John D. Brown, who is listed on the dial as a member of Company D of the 18th Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, is also listed on the Roster of Company D of the 18th Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers as someone who joined the unit as a private and left as having the same rank. The only other name on the dial that is that of a member of company D is William May. However, the Mark W May on the dial is accompanied by the date ‘24. See: http://members.aol.com/fecook/cw/18thctr.htm.
Diptych Pocket Sundial by Stockert
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: sundial, diptych
date made: 1791-1806
ca 1795
place made: Germany: Bavaria
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
paper (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 1.8 cm x 4.5 cm x 8 cm; 23/32 in x 1 25/32 in x 3 5/32 in
Topics: Mathematics
Timekeeping
Description: This wooden dial has paper tables and scales glued to the top and inside of the lid as well as the base. The top of the lid has, in English, a list of cities and their latitudes. The cities are in America, England, Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. On the inner lid is a scale for a south-facing vertical dial. On the inside of the bottom is a compass beneath glass as well as scales for horizontal dials for 55 degrees latitude, 50 degrees latitude, and a third latitude. There is a string gnomon with a small weight.
A mark on the object reads: Stockert (/) a Bavaria. Another mark indicates that the object was collected in Burgos, Spain by G. Brown Goode of the Smithsonian.
In the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, Ernst Christophe Stockert (1730-1806) and Johann Paul Stockert (c 1780-1790) made inexpensive diptych sundials. As one of the American cities listed is Washington, it seems likely that the dial was made in 1790 or later.
Reference:
Online Webster Signature Database, accessed June 14, 2018.
1 Dollar, United States, 1803
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: US Dollar
coin
Date made: 1803
maker: United States Mint
place made: United States
Measurements: overall: 2.3 mm x 39.3 mm; 3/32 in x 1 9/16 in
Credit line: U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Mint
Washington Seasons medal
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: medal
Date made: 1796
associated date: 1796
associated person: Washington, George
associated place: United States
Physical Description: bronze (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 49.3 mm; 1 15/16 in
Washington season medal
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Medal
Date made: 1796
Measurements: overall: 48.2 mm; x 1 7/8 in
Credit line: U.S. Department of the Treasury, United States Mint
Ramsden Dividing Engine
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: dividing engine
date made: 1775
maker: Jesse Ramsden
place made: United Kingdom: England, London
Physical Description: bronze (overall material)
brass (overall material)
mahogany (stand material)
Measurements: overall: 109 cm x 123 cm x 114 cm; 42 29/32 in x 48 7/16 in x 44 7/8 in
overall: 58 in x 60 in x 60 in; 147.32 cm x 152.4 cm x 152.4 cm
Credit line: Gift of Henry Morton
Topics: Time and Navigation
Ruling and Dividing Engines
American Revolution (1775-1783)
Mathematics
Description: Making precisely divided scales was of great importance to eighteenth and nineteenth century navigation and science. In 1775 the English instrument-maker Jesse Ramsden completed this machine, designed to divide arcs of circles automatically. The instrument has a mahogany frame with three legs and three frictionless wheels. These wheels support a heavy bronze wheel which is covered on its outer rim with a brass ring, cut with 2160 gear teeth. These teeth engage a screw on one side of the machine. Turning this screw 6 times rotates the carriage for the stylus exactly one degree. An object to be divided was clamped to the arms of the bronze wheel, with the cutting mechanism was above it.
Ramsden's invention won him an award from the British Board of Longitude. By the mid-nineteenth century, even small American instrument-makers had begun to buy dividing engines. The Philadelphia firm of Knox and Shain, which made navigational instruments, purchased Ramsden's dividing engine from his successors for their use.
Washington Seasons
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: medal
date made: 1796
associated date: 1796
associated person: Washington, George
place made: United States
associated place: United States
Physical Description: bronze (overall material)
Measurements: overall:;
Monk Praying in Grotto
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Automaton
date made: ca 1800
place made: France
Measurements: overall - automaton: 15 1/2 in x 11 1/8 in x 7 3/8 in; 39.37 cm x 28.2575 cm x 18.7325 cm
overall - prayer book: 1 1/8 in x 7/8 in x 3/4 in; 2.8575 cm x 2.2225 cm x 1.905 cm
overall - chain: 4 1/8 in x 1/2 in x 1/8 in; 10.4775 cm x 1.27 cm x .3175 cm
overall - from catalog card: 16 in x 7 in x 11 in; 40.64 cm x 17.78 cm x 27.94 cm
monk - from catalog card: 4 1/2 in; 11.43 cm
prayer book - from catalog card: 1 1/8 in x 7/8 in; 2.8575 cm x 2.2225 cm
Battery: Voltaic Pile
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: battery
battery; Electrochemical Devices
Date made: 1805
associated person: Volta, Alessandro
Physical Description: glass (overall material)
wood (overall material)
metal (overall material)
paper (overall material)
cotton (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 21 1/4 in x 4 1/2 in; 53.975 cm x 11.43 cm
Credit line: from Canisius College, Department of Physics thru Rev. J.J. Ruddick, S.J.
Topics: Energy & Power
Description: In 1800, Alessandro Volta of Italy announced his invention of a device that produced a small but steady electrical current. His "voltaic pile" operated by placing pieces of cloth soaked in salt water between pairs of zinc and copper discs, as seen in this 1805 pile from Canisius College. Contact between the two metals creates a difference in potential (or pressure, or "voltage"), which in a closed circuit produces electric current. Voltaic piles mark the origin of modern batteries.
Before Volta's invention, electrical researchers like Benjamin Franklin worked with static charges. They learned much, but were limited by the fact that the electrical discharge was at very high potential and very low current; it also could be produced only in very short spurts. A source of flowing current allowed wider-ranging experiments that resulted in greater understanding of the links between electricity and other natural phenomena, including magnetism and light and heat. Batteries attracted the attention of many scientists and inventors, and by the 1840s were providing current for new electrical devices like Joseph Henry's electromagnets and Samuel Morse's telegraph.
Cruickshank trough battery
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Battery
Battery; Electrochemical Devices
date made: ca. 1801
ca 1801
Measurements: overall: 3 in x 28 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in; 7.62 cm x 72.39 cm x 6.35 cm
Credit line: from Frances D. Priestley
Description (Brief): Cruickshank trough battery. See William Cruickshank's article, "Additional Remarks on Galvanic Electricity", J. Nat. Philos. Chem. Arts (also called Nicholson's Journal) 4, (1801): 254-264. Sixty pairs of zinc and copper plates produce about 0.8 volt each for 48 volts total output. Cruickshank made 2 such "machines". This unit was found among Joseph Priestley's experimental devices and presumably is a copy made for his use.
This object was restored in 1957. Treatment included: removal of beeswax from interior surfaces, repair of case ends with glued inserts, fabrication of a new base, cleaning of exterior surface, fabrication of 58 pairs and 2 single interior plates. Apparently the only original parts are the ends and sides as seen in pre-restoration images 44916 and 44916B. An image of the Priestley material as received in 1883 (SI neg# 45003B) clearly shows a trough battery with plates installed, but there is no indication in the file about what may have become of those plates.