Fire Badge "Richmond Fire Department"
date: label: date made
content: late 19th century
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: This shield-shaped metal fire badge belonged to a member of the fire department of Richmond, Virginia. The silver-plated badge has a stippled background with upper and lower banners that read “RICHMOND/FIRE DEPARTMENT.” The design at the middle of the badge is a representation of the early seal of Virginia that depicts the goddess Virtus victorious over Tyranny. Virtus, with spear and sword, is shown standing in triumph over the body of a tyrant—likely representing King George III—with scepter and crown fallen at his side. Virginia adopted this image as its official state seal in 1776, continues to use a variation on its state flag.
label: Description
content: Metal firefighter’s badges were a part of the firefighter’s uniform since volunteer companies began to proliferate in the early 19th century. As volunteer companies gave way to municipal fire departments during the mid–19th century, these badges became mandated by uniform codes. Badges served as official identification at fire scenes, as access to derelict buildings by unscrupulous citizens could result in looting. Fire badges came in a variety of shapes, most notably circular, shield–shaped, or the Maltese cross. While shield–shaped badges were often worn on the chest, circular and cross-shaped badges can be seen on jacket lapels or soft caps. Badges usually detailed the company’s name, number and department, and were often decorated with various symbols of the profession such as hose carriages, hand–pumped engines, hoses, trumpets, helmets, hooks, and ladders. For paid municipal companies, many badges also featured the badge number of the wearer.
place: label: place made
content: United States
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
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content: Work
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content: Firefighting Collection
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content: Fire Badges
label: Exhibition
content: Always Ready: Fighting Fire in the 19th Century
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2005.0233.1305
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.1305
objectType: label: Object Name
content: badge, fireman's
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 2 1/8 in x 1 7/8 in; 5.3975 cm x 4.7625 cm