Evening star., 1915-11-13
RELICS OF WASHINGTON I
IN NATIONAL MUSEUM
Collection Embraces q Variety Of
Mementos Obtained From
Numerous Sources.
Plaster Statuary and Face Mask,
Portraits and Engravings,
Articles Of Furniture. 4

Many relics and mementos OF George
Washington. ''the father Of his coun-
try" are displayed in the older build
ing of the United States National Mu-
scum. This collection consists OF
variety of material gathered from
numerous sources. While composed
largely of articles of domestic and
artistic interest owned by Washing
ton at Mount Vernon. the collection
also includes mementos OF his life in
the feld during the war Of the revo-
luton and number of miscellaneous
relics of greater or less Importance.
The most noteworthy objects are:
Four pieces of plaster statuary and y
face mask. several portraits and en-
cravings. many pieces OF furniture. In,
cluding Washinstons easy chair. ta-
bles. chairs. mirrors. bedstead and
footstool: numerous candelabra. lamps
and candlesticks. glass and china ware,
and table furnishings, as well as many
personal relics. These latter perhaps
represent more to the visitor. since
they were the individual property Of
this great statesman and warrior.
Costumes Worn by Washington. i
There are two interesting costumes
worn by Washington-the first an in
fant's robe of white brocade silk lined
with old rose china silk. used on the
occasion of his christening. and the
other a continental army uniform,
worn when he resigned his commits
sion as conmander-in-c chief of the
continental army. at Annapolis, Md.
December 2S. 1893. Representing, as
these these costumes do. two such sepa
tend to remind the observer Of the
great things which were accomplish
ed by Washington between the times
these diversified costumes were worn.
other articles of wearing apparel COM
prise a waistcoat and what were
known as small clothes. or knee
breeches- Three tents, with poles, pegs
and pouches; a mess chest, spyglass,
field glass. portable writing case and
shaving glass make up the field equip
ment used by Washington in his cam
paigns. Other relics, including an iron
treasure chest, a either and case, q
music case Of mahogany. a Chinese
tea chest and a gold medal commsm-
Grating his death. besides a number of
other miscellaneous articles. complete
one OF the most Interesting collections
Of historical objects in this country.
History Of Mount Vernon House.
Since many OF the articles relate %
pertinently to the home Of Washing gton.
brief mention of It's history is hsrs
made. Mount Vernon house. historical
ly the most interesting of American
mansions. and closely associated with
nearly all the objects herein described,
was erected in 1743 for Lawrence
Washington. the half-brother of George.
and SO named in honor of Admiral Ed
ward Vernon, r. N. under whose csm-
mand Lawrence Washington had
served during the British expedition
against Cartagena In 1741- The prop
erty passed into the hands OF George
after the death of Lawrence in 1852.
and the house was later improved and
enlarged. When Mrs. Washington died
in 1902. Mount Vernon became. in SC
cordance with Washington's will, the
property of his nephew. Bushrod Wash
nephew, John Augustine Washington.
from whom it passed to a son Of the
same name, and in 1855 was purchased
from him by the Mount Vernon Ladies'
Association.
BY an act Of Congress approved June
20. 1878. the government purchased .
collection Of Washington relics from G.
w. Lewis and others. the heirs Of Mrs.
Washington. and the wife of his neph- 4
ed, NAL Lawrence Lewis. After the
death of Mrs. Washington In 1902 these (
objects had passed into the hands Of
MIS-. Lewis, ana on her death IN 1Sbz
were received by her heirs. who hold
them until their purchase by the gov
ernment in 1873. when they were de-
posted in the United States patent Of :
f1ce. where they remained until trans
ferred to the United States National
Museum in 1888.
Designated as 'Lewis Collection"
The objects purchased from the Lewis
heirs form the greater portion of the
Washingtoniana in the museum, and
are designated as belonging to the
Lewis collection" The sources OF 9TH
er Washington relics. received by the
museum at various times as loans or
gifts. are noted on the descriptive la
bells.
In the museum Washington collection
manuscripts are lacking, but the SCI
ence of history is not confined to manu-
scripts alone for the sources of it's data.
and the collection as 1t stands is of
great interest and value. both to the
student Of history and to the general