Tobacco tin used to store cartridge from raid on Harper's Ferry
date: label: Date
content: late 19th century - early 20th century
name: label: Created by
content: J. Wright Co., American
label: Subject of
content: John Brown, American, 1800 - 1859
label: Subject of
content: Francis Jackson Meriam, American, 1837 - 1865
notes: label: Description
content: A tobacco tin for J. Wright Co. "Pride of Virginia"-brand tobacco. This tin has been used to store a .52 Sharp's cartridge planned for use as part of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry (NMAAHC 2023.84.1). The tin is painted in light blue, dark red or brown, and white with branding and a windmill or wagon wheel motif. Top left of the lid reads [J. WRIGHT CO.], top right reads [CONTINENTAL TOB. CO. / SUCCESSOR.], and bottom center reads [CUT PLUG]. A white scroll at center ostensibly reads [PRIDE OF / VIRGINIA] but is partially covered with a sticker, offwhite with red border, with handwritten label [Political].
label: Description
content: The edge of the tin where the lid is attached via hinge to the rest of container has consumer notice that reads [FACTORY No 51, 2ND DISTRICT OF VA / NOTICE - The Manufacturers of this Tobacco / have complied with all the requirements of law. / Every person is cautioned under penalties of / law not to use this package for tobacco again. / PRIDE of / VIRGINIA / CUT PLUG]. There is no writing on the bottom.
place: label: Place depicted
content: Virginia, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Washington County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: American South
label: Topic
content: Antislavery
label: Topic
content: Resistance
label: Topic
content: Slavery
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1815-1861
label: Topic
content: Violence
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Accessories and Personal Effects
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2023.84.2
objectType: label: Type
content: tins
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Public domain
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: tin and tin alloy
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (closed): 7/8 × 4 1/2 × 2 3/4 in. (2.2 × 11.5 × 7 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (open): 11/16 × 4 1/2 × 5 5/16 in. (1.7 × 11.5 × 13.5 cm)