RevolutionCrossroads/si_us_revolutionary_era_collections huggingface dataset:
Philadelphia Contributionship Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: 1805-1818
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: wood (board material)
lead (hands material)
Measurements: board: 15 1/4 in x 8 3/4 in; 38.735 cm x 22.225 cm
hands: 9 1/2 in x 8 3/4 in; 24.13 cm x 22.225 cm
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
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 sometime around 1805 to 1818. 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.
[None]
Insurance Company of North America Star Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: 1794
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
sheet lead (overall material)
Measurements: board: 16 1/4 in x 11 3/4 in; 41.275 cm x 29.845 cm
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
Fire Fighting
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 Insurance Company of North America issued a wavy six-pointed star as its fire mark from 1794 to 1797. Director’s minutes from an INA meeting show that 100 star fire marks were ordered from Philadelphia artist Robert Haydock, who was paid $133 for his work. These marks were then sold to policy holders for $1.33. A group of influential citizens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded the Insurance Company of North America in 1792. The INA was the first joint stock insurance company in the United States, and focused its business on marine and fire insurance. The Insurance Company of North America and related companies merged with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in 1982 to become the CIGNA Corporation. A later sale made INA a part of ACE Holdings, where it still operates today.
[None]
Insurance Company of North America Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: ca. 1796
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
lead (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 15 7/8 in x 12 7/8 in; 40.3225 cm x 32.7025 cm
eagle: 10 1/4 in x 8 3/4 in; 26.035 cm x 22.225 cm
overall: wt 3.25 lb
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
Fire Fighting
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 Insurance Company of North America issued an eagle fire mark from 1796 until 1800. The INA commissioned these marks from sculptor Claudius Francis LeGrand, and paid him $512 for 256 fire marks. Starting in 1796, INA offered their policy holders a choice between their previous star-shaped mark (which cost $1.33) and the eagle mark (which cost $2.00). This fire mark consisted of a leaden image of a spread-winged eagle arising from a cloud, affixed to a wooden oval. A group of influential citizens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded the Insurance Company of North America in 1792. The INA was the first joint stock insurance company in the United States, and focused its business on marine and fire insurance. The Insurance Company of North America and related companies merged with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in 1982 to become the CIGNA Corporation. A later sale made INA a part of ACE Holdings, where it still operates today.
[None]
Insurance Company of North America Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: ca. 1796
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
lead (overall material)
Measurements: board: 14 in x 10 5/8 in; 35.56 cm x 26.9875 cm
eagle: 10 1/4 in x 8 1/4 in; 26.035 cm x 20.955 cm
overall: wt 2.4375 lb
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
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 Insurance Company of North America issued an eagle fire mark from 1796 until 1800. The INA commissioned these marks from sculptor Claudius Francis LeGrand, and paid him $512 for 256 fire marks. Starting in 1796, INA offered their policyholders a choice between their previous star-shaped mark (which cost $1.33) and the eagle mark (which cost $2.00). This fire mark consisted of a leaden image of a spread-winged eagle arising from a cloud, affixed to a wooden oval. A group of influential citizens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded the Insurance Company of North America in 1792. The INA was the first joint stock insurance company in the United States, and focused its business on marine and fire insurance. The Insurance Company of North America and related companies merged with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in 1982 to become the CIGNA Corporation. A later sale made INA a part of ACE Holdings, where it still operates today.
[None]
Insurance Company of North America Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: ca 1800
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: copper (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 11 1/2 in x 9 in; 29.21 cm x 22.86 cm
overall: wt 7 oz
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
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 Insurance Company of North America issued this fire mark around 1800. This fire mark is based on the designs of Claudius Francis LeGrand, but is not part of the original first run he created. This fire mark consists of an image of a spread-winged eagle rising from a cloud embossed upon a copper oval. The eagle is painted gold, with the background painted a dull black. A group of influential citizens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded the Insurance Company of North America in 1792. The INA was the first joint stock insurance company in the United States, and focused its business on marine and fire insurance. The Insurance Company of North America and related companies merged with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in 1982 to become the CIGNA Corporation. A later sale made INA a part of ACE Holdings, where it still operates today.
[None]
Insurance Company of North America Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: ca 1800
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: copper (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 11 5/8 in x 9 in; 29.5275 cm x 22.86 cm
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
Fire Fighting
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 Insurance Company of North America offered this fire mark to their policyholders around 1800. This fire mark is based on the designs of Claudius Francis LeGrand, consisting of an image of a spread-winged eagle rising from a cloud embossed upon a copper oval. A group of influential citizens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded the Insurance Company of North America in 1792. A group of influential citizens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded the Insurance Company of North America in 1792. The INA was the first joint stock insurance company in the United States, and focused its business on marine and fire insurance. The Insurance Company of North America and related companies merged with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in 1982 to become the CIGNA Corporation. A later sale made INA a part of ACE Holdings, where it still operates today.
[None]
Whalebone Ruler
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: scrimshaw
scrimshaw yardstick
date made: 1800s
collected: 1960-07-26
Physical Description: ivory (overall material)
bone (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 34 1/4 in; 86.995 cm
Credit line: Gift of Avis and Rockwell Gardiner
Publisher: National Museum of American History. On the Water exhibition website, http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater
Topics: Manufacturing industries
Industrialization
Art
Transportation
Ecology
On the Water exhibit
Description: “Straight edges” or rulers were used aboard ships as writing guides on the unlined pages of letters, journals and logbooks. The back side of this long stick is marked in 2-1/4, 4-1/2 and 9-inch sections, indicating another usage, probably by the ship’s cooper to measure the level of liquid (water, wine, beer or whale oil) in his wooden casks.
Mutual Assurance Company Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: 1786
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: pine (overall; board material)
lead (overall; tree material)
Measurements: board: 16 1/2 in x 12 1/2 in; 41.91 cm x 31.75 cm
tree: 11 1/2 in x 8 3/4 in; 29.21 cm x 22.225 cm
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
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 Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring Houses from Loss by Fire of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania issued this fire mark in 1786. This Mutual fire mark consists of a leaden image of a tree nailed to a shield-shaped pine board. The Mutual was founded in 1784 by former policyholders of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. The Philadelphia Contributionship decided that buildings with trees in front of them posed a fire hazard and would no longer be insured. Since trees were abundant in early Philadelphia, this decision created a rift in the Contributionship. The Mutual was founded to provide insurance to those members whose buildings had trees. The adoption of the “Green Tree” as the company’s fire mark was a nod to the dispute that led to Mutual’s founding.
[None]
Mutual Assurance Company Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: 1785
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: wood (board material)
lead (tree material)
Measurements: board: 16 1/4 in x 12 1/2 in; 41.275 cm x 31.75 cm
tree: 11 1/2 in x 8 3/4 in; 29.21 cm x 22.225 cm
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
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 Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring Houses from Loss by Fire of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, issued this fire mark for policy number 23 in 1785. This Mutual fire mark consists of a leaden image of a tree whose leaves were painted green nailed to a shield-shaped pine board that has been painted brown. The policy number is painted in gold. The Mutual was founded in 1784 by former policyholders of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. The Philadelphia Contributionship decided that buildings with trees in front of them posed a fire hazard and would no longer be insured. Since trees were abundant in early Philadelphia, this decision created a rift in the Contributionship’s membership. The Mutual was founded to provide insurance to those members whose buildings had trees. The adoption of the “Green Tree” as the company’s fire mark was a nod to the dispute that led to the Mutual’s founding.
Mutual Assurance Company Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: 1797
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: pine (overall material)
lead (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 16 in x 12 in x 1 1/4 in; 40.64 cm x 30.48 cm x 3.175 cm
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
Fire Fighting
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 Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring Houses from Loss by Fire of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, issued this fire mark to a building on Front and Coates (now Fairmount) Avenue in Philadelphia in 1797. This Mutual fire mark consists of a leaden image of a tree nailed to a shield-shaped pine board. The mark shows some remnants of green paint on the tree’s leaves, and the board has been painted red. The Mutual was founded in 1784 by former policyholders of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. The Philadelphia Contributionship decided that buildings with trees in front of them posed a fire hazard and would no longer be insured. Since trees were abundant in early Philadelphia, this decision created a rift in the Contributionship. The Mutual was founded to provide insurance to those members whose buildings had trees. The adoption of the “Green Tree” as the company’s fire mark was a nod to the dispute that led to the Mutual’s founding.
[None]
Mutual Assurance Company Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: 1794–1797
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
lead (overall material)
Measurements: board: 15 1/4 in x 11 in; 38.735 cm x 27.94 cm
tree: 11 1/2 in x 8 1/4 in; 29.21 cm x 20.955 cm
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
Fire Fighting
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 Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring Houses from Loss by Fire of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, issued this fire mark between 1794 and 1797. This Mutual fire mark consists of a leaden image of a tree nailed to a shield-shaped wooden board that was painted white. The Mutual was founded in 1784 by former policyholders of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. The Philadelphia Contributionship decided that buildings with trees in front of them posed a fire hazard and would no longer be insured. Since trees were abundant in early Philadelphia, this decision created a rift in the Contributionship. The Mutual was founded to provide insurance to those members whose buildings had trees. The adoption of the “Green Tree” as the company’s fire mark was a nod to the dispute that led to the Mutual’s founding.
[None]
Mutual Assurance Company Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: 1799
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
lead (overall material)
Measurements: board: 15 1/4 in x 11 in; 38.735 cm x 27.94 cm
tree: 11 1/2 in x 8 1/4 in; 29.21 cm x 20.955 cm
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
Fire Fighting
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 Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring Houses from Loss by Fire of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, issued this fire mark in 1799. This Mutual fire mark consists of a leaden image of a tree nailed to an oval-shaped wooden board. The policy number 936 can be faintly seen at the base of the tree. The Mutual was founded in 1784 by former policyholders of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. The Philadelphia Contributionship decided that buildings with trees in front of them posed a fire hazard and would no longer be insured. Since trees were abundant in early Philadelphia, this decision created a rift in the Contributionship. The Mutual was founded to provide insurance to those members whose buildings had trees. The adoption of the “Green Tree” as the company’s fire mark was a nod to the dispute that led to the Mutual’s founding.
Mutual Assurance Company Fire Mark
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: fire mark
date made: 1798
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
lead (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 15 in x 10 1/2 in; 38.1 cm x 26.67 cm
Credit line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
Topics: Insurance
Fire Marks
Advertising
Firefighting Collection
Fire Fighting
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 Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring Houses from Loss by Fire this fire mark for policy number 861 to William Montgomery of 128 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1798. This Mutual fire mark consists of a leaden image of a tree painted green nailed to an oval-shaped wooden board. The policy “No. 861” can be faintly seen at the trunk of the tree. The Mutual was founded in 1784 by former policyholders of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. The Philadelphia Contributionship decided that buildings with trees in front of them posed a fire hazard and would no longer be insured. Since trees were abundant in early Philadelphia, this decision created a rift in the Contributionship. The Mutual was founded to provide insurance to those members whose buildings had trees. The adoption of the “Green Tree” as the company’s fire mark was a nod to the dispute that led to the Mutual’s founding.