Major Samuel Selden’s Powder Horn: A Revolutionary Map of Boston

By Allison K. 兰格博士

我们希望看到纸上的地图，而不是动物角上的地图. Maj. Samuel Selden might have thought this as he etched a map of Boston on his powder horn, 日期是1776年3月9日. During the Revolutionary War, soldiers used animal horns to hold their gunpowder. They filled them at the larger end and funneled the powder into their weapons. 并不是所有的民兵都有自己的火药角, so men like Selden carved unique designs on them in order to claim them as their own.

Selden was a member of Connecticut’s Provincial Assembly and became a major in the colony’s militia during the war. He served under George Washington’s direction during the siege of Boston. His powder horn depicts the sites of American fortifications as well as the positions of the Continental Army just before the British evacuated the city.

Even if we did not know Selden’s background, his carvings convey his allegiances. A ship labeled “Amaraca” displays a Continental Union flag. 另一面旗帜描绘了自由树, the tree near the Boston Common where locals met to protest British rule. Alongside his name, Selden also inscribed the words: “made for the defense of liberty.”

Selden’s map is a pictorial map rather than one focused on the area’s geography. His detailed carvings feature individual ships in the harbor and houses lining the Boston neck. Crosshatching adds depth to the water and makes his lettering stand out. 相比之下， 1775年，诺曼B号的火药号角. 利文塔尔地图中心 展示了更为传统的波士顿地图. 这张地图描绘的不是图片，而是海岸线. Unlike Selden’s, however, a British soldier carved this powder horn. He inscribed the words: “A Pox on rebels in ther crymes [their crimes].”

1775粉角

图片由诺曼·B提供. 利文塔尔地图中心.

就在塞尔登雕刻他的角六个月后, the British captured him at the Battle of Kip’s Bay during their campaign to take control of New York City. 监狱的条件很差. Less than a month later, Selden fell ill and died on 11 October 1776.

塞尔登的火药角, 以及他的英国同行, 目前在诺曼B. 利文塔尔地图中心’s exhibition at the Boston Public Library. 这次展览, 我们是一体。: Mapping America’s Road from Revolution to Independence, uses 地图 to explore the events that led thirteen colonies to forge a new nation. 我们是一体。 证明了地图, from Selden’s carving to early European 地图 of the new nation, 是革命进程的核心. 这次展览展出了地图和印刷品, 绘画, and objects from the 利文塔尔地图中心’s own collection and those of twenty partners, including the 大英图书馆 and 美国国会图书馆. 访问 zoominginonhistory.com 探索展览中的地理参考地图.

The exhibition will be on display at the Boston Public Library through November 29, 2015. 我们是一体。 then 旅行s to Colonial Williamsburg from February 2016 through January 2017 and to the New-York Historical Society from November 2017 through March 2018.

The 利文塔尔地图中心 also hosts the NEH-funded 美国革命 Portal database. Researchers can access 地图 from the 马萨诸塞州历史学会, 大英图书馆, 美国国会图书馆, 和其他机构一起搜索. Users can download images for research and classroom use. 访问这些资源并了解更多og体育平台 我们是一体。 at 地图.底保.org/WeAreOne.

Find out more about the Society’s own map collection at their upcoming exhibition: Terra Firma: The Beginnings of the MHS Map Collection，将于10月2日开幕. 至9月4日, visitors to the MHS can learn more about the 美国革命 with exhibition: 上帝拯救人民! 从印花税法案到邦克山.

图1:塞尔登，塞缪尔，1723-1776. [粉末号角由塞缪尔·塞尔登誊写.莱姆，康涅狄格州., 1776. 1 powder horn: ivory; 37 x 21 x 13.3 cm. 马萨诸塞州历史学会.

图2:以上细节.

图3:E.B.，[粉末号角与波士顿和查尔斯顿地图]. (波士顿),1775年. 斯克林肖角，14 × 3.5 x 3.5英寸. 诺曼·B. 利文塔尔地图中心.

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给夫人的爱国披肩. 安德鲁

By 伊莱恩Grublin

1861年4月24日星期三. the following story ran in the third column of page two of the 波士顿晚报实录  (卷. 第十七届,没有. 9507):

“恰当地介绍给夫人. 政府. 安德鲁. A large and elegantly wrought shawl, patriotic in every feature, was this morning presented to 夫人. 政府. 安德鲁，由Messrs. R. H. 斯登 & Co.夏日街. 这是最好的精纺毛料, 用红色, 蓝白相间的条纹, with thirty-four stars and the Union shield of the same material, so arranged as to give the whole a symmetrical appearance and an exceedingly fine effect. 它是由牛顿的一位女士设计并执行的, and for its novelty and appropriateness to the times is well worthy of examination. 这种情况可能会持续几天. R. H. 斯登 & Co.在夏街15号的窗口.(通过 谷歌新闻.)

In May 1922, Edith and Henry Hersey 安德鲁, the children of 政府. & 夫人. 安德鲁，把书中描述的披肩给了他 成绩单 to the MHS and it has been part of our collections since that time.  Currently 安妮·宾利, our art curator, is preparing the shawl to be loaned to the 美国纺织历史博物馆 在马萨诸塞州的洛厄尔. 的披肩, 以及其他MHS工件, will be displayed as part of the ATHM’s upcoming exhibition Homefront & Battlefield: The 内战 through Quilts and Context该酒店计划于2012年春夏开业.  Anne’s recent work with the shawl has given many MHS staff members a chance to view the item up close.  It is an interesting and intricate piece, as you can see in the detail photograph below. 

 

你可以 联络图书馆职员 if you are interested in making an appointment to view the item at the MHS.  Naturally it will not be available for viewing here during the time it is out on loan, but can otherwise be made available to researchers on an appointment basis.

艺术策展人安妮·本特利摄影

 

 

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展出的外科医生工具箱

By 安妮·宾利

A fitted case containing surgeon’s instruments belonging to William Swift, M.D., United States Navy, in the War of 1812 is on display in the 美国宪法博物馆 newest exhibition: “All Hands on Deck: A Sailor’s Life in 1812.”  

William Swift (1779-1864), an 1812 graduate of the Harvard Medical School, served in the U.S. 从1812年到1861年退休. He sailed to the coast of Africa in the frigate Chesapeake, and was serving on her when she fought the British vessel Shannon in Boston Harbor, 1813. 他后来在叙利亚的禁闭室担任海军外科医生.

该试剂盒是由Dr. 露西H. 斯威夫特，1991年10月26日. MHS还关押着Dr. 斯威夫特的文件(Ms. N-162):见 收集指南 了解更多信息.

Curators at the USS Constitution Museum have installed Swift’s surgeon’s kit in their “Aftermath” area that very effectively illustrates the realities of war at sea.  你可以在2010年12月看到它. The grand opening of the exhibit, featuring Boston mayor Tom Menino, will be held on 3 July at 11 a.m.

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