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  • Wax jack owned by the Dennis Family

    Wax jack owned by the Dennis Family

    Subject of
    Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, American, founded 2001
    Medium
    britannia metal, silver, beeswax, and cotton (fiber)
    Dimensions
    H x W (width includes handle): 6 3/4 × 5 1/8 in. (17.1 × 13 cm)
    Type
    taper jacks
    Date
    early 19th century
    Description
    The taper holder is a silver plated piece with three hallmarks or maker's marks pressed into the rim of the saucer/dish base. The center of the dish curves upward to support two curved parabolic prongs which curve out and up before meeting again at the top of the piece where they support a small metal cylinder with a circle cut in its center. A spool of candle wax wound on a thin metal rod with an oval handle is parallel to the base; the wax taper is threaded through the round metal piece at the top. There is a silver handle melded to rim just under the oval handle of the spool which unspools the beeswax taper. A small cone shaped candle-snuffer is attached to the PL prong by a hanging chain.
    Topic
    African American
    Correspondence
    Domestic life
    Families
    United States--History--1783-1815
    United States--History--1815-1861
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of M. Denise Dennis, in honor of the Dennis Family
    Object number
    2014.273.1
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Tools and Equipment-Domestic
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • Bible given to Perkins William Dennis

    Published by
    American Bible Society, American, founded 1816
    Owned by
    Dennis, Perkins William, American, 1853 - 1918
    Subject of
    Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, American, founded 2001
    Medium
    ink on paper, cardboard, metal, and leather
    Dimensions
    H x W (closed): 5 × 3 5/8 × 1 13/16 in. (12.7 × 9.2 × 4.6 cm)
    Type
    Bibles
    Date
    1863
    Description
    Small leather bound text with metal clasps attached to the center PR edge of the front and back cover. The interlocking metal pieces which perhaps once held the bible together as extensions of these metal clasps are now missing. There is an embossed, symmetrical pattern on the covers; the central design is a large oval with two smaller circles at the top and bottom apexes of the central oval. Surrounding and embellishing these three prominent shapes are ornate design details and flourishes more worn down with age than the larger shapes. There is a partial binding along the spine of the text, but it should be noted that the bible is fragile and can be pulled apart into smaller groupings of pages if not handled with caution.
    Topic
    African American
    Domestic life
    Families
    Religious groups
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of M. Denise Dennis, in honor of the Dennis Family
    Object number
    2014.273.11
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Documents and Published Materials-Published Works
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • The Underground Rail Road

    Book owned by the Dennis family
    Published by
    Porter & Coates, Publishers, American
    Written by
    Still, William, American, 1821 - 1902
    Subject of
    Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, American, founded 2001
    Medium
    ink on paper, cardboard, book cloth (textile material), and tape
    Dimensions
    H x W (closed): 9 3/4 × 7 1/4 × 2 1/4 in. (24.8 × 18.4 × 5.7 cm)
    H x W (open): 9 3/4 × 14 1/2 × 2 1/4 in. (24.8 × 36.8 × 5.7 cm)
    Type
    hardcover books
    Date
    1872
    Description
    This is a brown hardcover book with several engraved details. The front cover has double line impressions which follow the edges; in the center of the front cover is a line of engraved bold text which reads [U.G.R.R.]. On the spine of the book is a pattern of evenly spaced line impressions which form six sections; three of these 'sections' have lines of horizontally oriented engraved gold text. The second section reads [THE/UNDERGROUND/RAILROAD]. The fourth section reads [WILLIAM STILL]. The sixth section reads [PORTER & COATES]. The back cover also has engraved impressions of lines following the edges of the book; the back cover is coming loose from the binding of the spine.
    Topic
    African American
    Antislavery
    Communication
    Families
    Literature
    Reconstruction (United States History, 1865-1877)
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of M. Denise Dennis, in honor of the Dennis Family
    Object number
    2014.273.19
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Documents and Published Materials-Published Works
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • The Black Phalanx: A History of the Negro Soldiers of the United States in the Wars of 1775-1812, 1861 - '65

    Book owned by the Dennis family
    Published by
    American Publishing Company
    Written by
    Wilson, Joseph T., American, 1836 - 1891
    Subject of
    Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, American, founded 2001
    Medium
    ink on paper, cardboard, and book cloth (textile material)
    Dimensions
    H x W: 9 × 6 1/2 × 1 3/4 in. (22.9 × 16.5 × 4.4 cm)
    Type
    books
    Date
    1888
    Description
    This is a hardcover book, crimson in color, with extensive illustrations on the front cover. The title is written on a waving gold banner located in the top half of the front cover; the banner appears to be apart of a collage of military paraphernalia drawn in contrasting black ink, including a drum, saber, musket, and flag pole, which begins at a lower point on the cover. These items appear to have been pushed through an illustrated gaping hole of sunlight in the bottom right quadrant of the front cover. On the spine of the book is the title engraved in gold leaf in horizontally oriented text which reads [THE/HISTORY/OF THE/BLACK/PHALANX]. Below the title is a gold leaf shield filled with black text which reads [AMERICAN/PUBLISHING/COMPANY,/HARTFORD/CONN.].
    Topic
    African American
    Communication
    Families
    Literature
    Military
    United States--History--1865-1921
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of M. Denise Dennis, in honor of the Dennis Family
    Object number
    2014.273.25
    Restrictions & Rights
    Public domain
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Documents and Published Materials-Published Works
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Glasses of Henry W. Dennis with eyeglass case

    Glasses of Henry W. Dennis with eyeglass case

    Owned by
    Dennis, Henry W., American, 1815 - 1882
    Subject of
    Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, American, founded 2001
    Medium
    metal, crown glass, cloth, and rubber
    Dimensions
    H x W (glasses): 2 1/8 × 4 5/8 × 5/8 in. (5.4 × 11.7 × 1.6 cm)
    H x W (case): 2 3/8 × 5 1/8 × 3/4 in. (6 × 13 × 1.9 cm)
    Type
    eyeglasses
    eyeglass cases
    Date
    mid-19th century
    Description
    The glasses have round, circular lenses and thin metal temple bars made of the same material that frames the lenses. There are small, browned nose pads attached to the bridge. The glasses rest on a small, worn pink cloth inside of a velvet lined case. The case is metal and mostly covered with a patterned black material. Fading, illegible silver lettering is centered on the top lid of the case.
    Topic
    African American
    Clothing and dress
    Families
    United States--History--1815-1861
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of M. Denise Dennis, in honor of the Dennis Family
    Object number
    2014.273.27ab
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Tools and Equipment-Personal use
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture

  • An Explanatory and Phonographic Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language

    Dictionary owned by the Dennis family
    Published by
    Bolles & Williams, American
    Written by
    Bolles, William, American, 1800 - 1883
    Subject of
    Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, American, founded 2001
    Medium
    ink on paper, cardboard, and book cloth (textile material)
    Dimensions
    H x W (closed): 9 3/4 × 7 1/4 × 3 1/8 in. (24.8 × 18.4 × 7.9 cm)
    Type
    books
    Date
    1845
    Description
    The book is hardback and brown in color; almost completely absent of design, it is only marked with the title printed on its spine in horizontally oriented gold text on a narrow section of black cover which is a slightly different material than the rest of the brown cover. The text reads [BOLLES'/PHONOGRAPHIC PRONOUNCING/DICTIONARY]. There are two embossed horizontal lines below the title on the spine.
    Topic
    African American
    Communication
    Domestic life
    Education
    Families
    Literature
    United States--History--1815-1861
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of M. Denise Dennis, in honor of the Dennis Family
    Object number
    2014.273.6
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Documents and Published Materials-Published Works
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • The Poems of Phillis Wheatley

    The Poems of Phillis Wheatley

    Book owned by the Dennis family
    Published by
    R.R. & C.C. Wright, American
    Written by
    Wheatley, Phillis, American, 1753 - 1784
    Subject of
    Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, American, founded 2001
    Medium
    ink on paper, cardboard, and book cloth (textile material)
    Dimensions
    H x W: 7 1/2 × 5 1/2 × 1/2 in. (19.1 × 14 × 1.3 cm)
    Type
    books
    Date
    1909
    Description
    This hardcover book is covered in a green, waved pattern. The front cover has two gold leaf design-detailed bands which are placed close to the top and bottom edge of the front cover. In the center of the front cover is an oval-shaped portrait of Phillis Wheatley seated at a desk with parchment in her left hand. The portrait is encircled by a gold leaf ribbon. Above and below the portrait are lines of gold script. The first line reads [The Poems of]. The second line reads [Phillis Wheatley].
    Topic
    African American
    Communication
    Families
    Literature
    United States--History--1865-1921
    United States--History--Colonial period
    Women
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of M. Denise Dennis, in honor of the Dennis Family
    Object number
    2014.273.8
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Documents and Published Materials-Published Works
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • The Black Christ and Other Poems

    The Black Christ and Other Poems

    Book owned by the Dennis family
    Published by
    Harper & Brothers, American, 1817 - 1962
    Written by
    Cullen, Countee, American, 1903 - 1946
    Subject of
    Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, American, founded 2001
    Medium
    ink on paper, cardboard, book cloth (textile material), and tape
    Dimensions
    H x W (closed): 8 × 5 3/8 × 3/4 in. (20.3 × 13.7 × 1.9 cm)
    H x W (open): 8 × 11 1/4 × 3/4 in. (20.3 × 28.6 × 1.9 cm)
    Type
    hardcover books
    Date
    1929
    Description
    Powder blue and black hardback book with a decorative dust jacket which lists the text's title, author, and publisher. The front cover consists of a series of two black and white images which face and oppose each other in a pattern. The first image, where the main figure is mostly drawn in white, is of a Christ figure with his arms stretched on a cross foregrounded in front of lightning. The second image is of a black figure hanging from a tree by his neck, foregrounded in front of falling raindrops. On the front cover, centered at the top, is a box of text outlined in red and filled with red lettering. The text reads [THE BLACK CHRIST/& Other Poems by/COUNTEE CULLEN/HARPER & BROTHERS ESTABLISHED 1817]. The back cover is not patterned, but features a printed list of Harper & Brothers publications; the first line of text reads [New HARPER Poetry].
    Topic
    African American
    Communication
    Families
    Poetry
    United States--History--1919-1933
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of M. Denise Dennis, in honor of the Dennis Family
    Object number
    2014.273.18
    Restrictions & Rights
    © 1929, 1957 Harpers & Brothers. Permission required for use.
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Documents and Published Materials-Published Works
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Indian Head penny owned by the Dennis family

    Indian Head penny owned by the Dennis family

    Produced by
    United States Mint, American, founded 1792
    Subject of
    Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, American, founded 2001
    Medium
    copper and nickel
    Dimensions
    Diameter: 3/4 × 1/16 in. (1.9 × 0.2 cm)
    Type
    pennies
    Date
    1863
    Description
    The front of the coin features a white woman in profile wearing the headdress of a Native American man. Small text follows the circumference of the coin; to the image's left it reads [UNITED STATES] and to the right of the image it reads [OF AMERICA]. Below the image is the mint year [1863]. On the reverse of the coin is the denomination [ONE CENT] encircled with an oak wreath with a striped shield at the top apex of the design.
    Topic
    African American
    Emancipation
    Families
    Finance
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of M. Denise Dennis, in honor of the Dennis Family
    Object number
    2014.273.7
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
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    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Tools and Equipment
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture