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  • Civil war shelter tent half owned by George Thompson Garrison

    Manufactured by
    H. S. McComb, American
    Owned by
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Subject of
    55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, American, 1863 - 1865
    Medium
    cotton (textile), bone, thread
    Dimensions
    H x W: 59 × 65 1/4 in. (149.9 × 165.7 cm)
    Type
    tents
    Place made
    Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    circa 1863
    Description
    One half of a U.S. Military issued tent owned by G.T. Garrison. The tent is a flat, nearly square piece of cotton cloth. Along the two sides and the upper edge there are button holes, above each of these notches are white circular bone buttons sewn to the cotton, several of which are missing. One edge has neither buttons nor notches. The side on which the buttons are stitched has [Co. I / 55th] stamped in black pigment in the lower-right quadrant. At the top in small, faded letters [H.S. McCOMB / WILMINGTON] is stamped in red pigment. The opposite side of the tent is undecorated.
    Topic
    African American
    Antislavery
    Military
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Garrison Family in memory of George Thompson Garrison
    Object number
    2014.115.2
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Tools and Equipment-Military
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Mameluke sword presented to Capt. George Garrison by the 55th Massachusetts

    Mameluke sword presented to Capt. George Garrison by the 55th Massachusetts

    Manufactured by
    F. Horster, German
    Owned by
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Subject of
    55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, American, 1863 - 1865
    Medium
    metal, steel, shagreen
    Dimensions
    2014.115.1.1a Sword: 37 15/16 × 4 3/4 × 4 in. (96.4 × 12.1 × 10.2 cm)
    2014.115.1.1b Scabbard: 34 × 2 5/8 × 5/8 in. (86.4 × 6.7 × 1.6 cm)
    2014.115.1.1ab Sheathed: 39 5/16 × 4 3/4 × 4 in. (99.9 × 12.1 × 10.2 cm)
    Type
    swords
    scabbards
    Place made
    Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe
    Place purchased
    Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    1863
    Description
    An etched mameluke sword and scabbard presented to Capt. George T. Garrison by the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The steel blade is slightly curved and has designs etched on both sides. At the midpoint of the PL side of the blade [U.S.] is inscribed in decorative letters and surrounded by floral filigree. On the PR side is a version of the coat of arms of the United States. An eagle with outstretched wings and holding an [E. PLURIBUS UNUM] banner in its beak flies behind a stars and stripes shield and is surrounded by rays of light. At the base of the blade where it meets the hilt there are two marks. On the PR side is a small circle with raised text reading [PROVED] and a fleur-de lis with a radiating pattern around it. On the PL side is the makers mark, reading [F. HORSTER / SOLINGEN] below a floral design. The words [IRON PROOF] are stamped in the bottom of the blade near the guard. The guard of the blade features the US coat of arms, with eagle, arrows, olive branch, shield, and [E. PLURIBUS UNUM] banner above molded letters [U S]. The guard is quite large where the blade attaches to the grip and narrows at the pommel of the sword. The grip itself is metal on the top and pommel, with shagreen, likely shark skin on the underside, lashed with a twisted metal coil. The metal scabbard is undecorated with a semi-circular shoe extension at the tip. It has two mounts with carrying rings on the half closest to the throat.
    Topic
    African American
    Antislavery
    Military
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Garrison Family in memory of George Thompson Garrison
    Object number
    2014.115.1.1ab
    Restrictions & Rights
    Public Domain
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Tools and Equipment-Military
    Tools and Equipment-Weapons and ammunition
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Notebook of lists and accounts made by George T. Garrison

    Notebook of lists and accounts made by George T. Garrison

    Created by
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Subject of
    55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, American, 1863 - 1865
    Medium
    leather, ink and graphite on paper (fiber product)
    Dimensions
    H x W x D (Closed): 5 × 3 1/8 × 7/16 in. (12.7 × 7.9 × 1.1 cm)
    Type
    notebooks
    Place used
    Folly Island, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    1864
    Description
    A small, leather bond notebook. Written on the inside cover: [George T. Garrison/1st Lieut . & .A.R.L.M./55th Reg't Mass. Vol./Folly Island, S. C.,/Feb. 11th, 1864.]
    This appears to be a personal notebook kept by G.T. Garrison which contains notes on a number of topics including food lists, company rankings, pricing lists, clothing supplies, notes about stolen items, camp and equipage items, stationary, notes, accounts, diary elements, and lists of personnel. The first list reads [Account Diary of Government Allowances of Subsistence Stores].
    Topic
    African American
    Antislavery
    Military
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Garrison Family in memory of George Thompson Garrison
    Object number
    2014.115.3.37
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Documents and Published Materials
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Photograph of members of the 55th Massachusetts Infantry

    Photograph of members of the 55th Massachusetts Infantry

    Photograph by
    Unidentified
    Subject of
    55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, American, 1863 - 1865
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Owned by
    Garrison, William Lloyd, American, 1805 - 1879
    Subject of
    Unidentified Man or Men
    Medium
    albumen and silver on photographic paper
    Dimensions
    H x W (Image): 10 5/8 × 15 13/16 in. (27 × 40.2 cm)
    H x W (Sheet): 14 11/16 × 20 in. (37.3 × 50.8 cm)
    Type
    photographs
    Place captured
    Readville, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    1863-1865
    Description
    A photograph of 59 members of the 55th Massachusetts Infantry in uniform. The image features two (2) rows of people, with the back row of men standing and the front row of men either kneeling or lounging. The soldiers stand outside with a row of trees in the background. The image is on photo paper and has been adhered to a larger backing. The image has discoloration throughout, especially on the back. There are no inscriptions, front or back.
    Topic
    African American
    Military
    Photography
    Slavery
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Garrison Family in memory of George Thompson Garrison
    Object number
    2014.115.5
    Restrictions & Rights
    Public domain
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Media Arts-Photography
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Pocketwatch inscribed to William Lloyd Garrison from George Thompson

    Pocketwatch inscribed to William Lloyd Garrison from George Thompson

    Created by
    Unidentified
    Commissioned by
    George Thompson, English, 1804 - 1878
    Subject of
    The Liberator, American, 1831 - 1865
    Owned by
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Garrison, William Lloyd, American, 1805 - 1879
    Medium
    gold, metal, glass, paint
    Dimensions
    H x W x D: 2 11/16 × 1 7/8 × 9/16 in. (6.8 × 4.8 × 1.4 cm)
    Type
    pocket watches
    Place made
    London, England, Europe
    Place depicted
    Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    1850
    Description
    An inscribed gold pocket watch presented to William Lloyd Garrison. The watch has a half hunter case, with spring hinged glass cover over the dial and a hinged gold lid over the back, protecting the inscription and winding square. The dial is painted white with roman numerals and fleur de lis shaped watch hands. There is a smaller 60-second dial partly obscuring the "VI" of the larger dial. The two hinged covers open via a button on the crown and bow, positioned above the "XII" of the dial. The engraved inscription on the back of the watch is decorative and reads [Presented by / GEORGE THOMPSON, M.P. / on behalf of him / self and others / to / WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, / intrepid and uncompromising / Friend of the Slave: / in commemoration of the / TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF / THE LIBERATOR / Boston / January 1st, 1851] in several text sizes and fonts. Production and identification marks are stamped and scratched on the inside of the back cover.
    Topic
    African American
    Antislavery
    Social reform
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Garrison Family in memory of George Thompson Garrison
    Object number
    2014.115.6.1
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Tools and Equipment-Personal use
    Exhibition
    Slavery and Freedom
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Collection box of the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society owned by Garrison family

    Collection box of the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society owned by Garrison family

    Created by
    Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society, American, 1833 - 1850s
    Owned by
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Garrison, William Lloyd, American, 1805 - 1879
    Medium
    ink on cardboard
    Dimensions
    H x W x D: 3 1/8 × 2 7/16 × 1 13/16 in. (7.9 × 6.2 × 4.6 cm)
    H x W x D (a - body): 3 × 2 7/16 × 1 3/4 in. (7.6 × 6.2 × 4.4 cm)
    H x W x D (b - lid): 13/16 × 2 5/16 × 1 11/16 in. (2.1 × 5.9 × 4.3 cm)
    Type
    boxes (containers)
    Date
    1830s - 1850s
    Description
    Cardboard coin collection box produced by the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society. The box is constructed in two pieces, a top and bottom. The top has a slot for coins and fits into the bottom. The box is yellow with black print, including a tableau on the front of an enslaved person in chains on his knees surrounded by implements of bondage.
    Topic
    African American
    Antislavery
    Societies
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Garrison Family in memory of George Thompson Garrison
    Object number
    2014.115.9
    Restrictions & Rights
    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Memorabilia and Ephemera-Political and Activist Ephemera
    Exhibition
    Slavery and Freedom
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Diary of Lieutenant John Freeman Shorter

    Diary of Lieutenant John Freeman Shorter

    Written by
    Lieutenant Shorter, John Freeman, American, 1842 - 1865
    Subject of
    Delany, Martin Robison, American, 1812 - 1885
    55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, American, 1863 - 1865
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Medium
    leather, graphite on paper, ink
    Dimensions
    H x W x D (2014.118.1a Closed): 5 × 3 9/16 × 13/16 in. (12.7 × 9 × 2.1 cm)
    H x W x D (2014.118.1a Open): 5 × 9 1/4 × 13/16 in. (12.7 × 23.5 × 2.1 cm)
    H x W (2014.118.1b): 8 × 4 15/16 in. (20.3 × 12.5 cm)
    H x W (2014.118.1c): 8 3/4 × 2 1/2 in. (22.2 × 6.4 cm)
    Type
    diaries
    Place used
    South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
    Place depicted
    Ohio, United States, North and Central America
    Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    1865
    Caption
    A direct descendent of Elizabeth Hemings, John Freeman Shorter grew up in Washington, D.C. as a free man. By the spring of 1863, he was living in Ohio when he left for Boston to enlist in the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. A white officer once described Shorter as “tall, of muscular build, … hair light, complexion almost white, and blue eyes, whose lively expression brightened a face otherwise somewhat grave.” Shorter became one of only two other fully-commissioned black officers in the 55th Massachusetts—“Three as worthy men as ever carried a gun,” declared the chaplain of the 55th. All three of these officers were connected to Monticello. Shorter was the only direct descendent of the enslaved at Monticello; the other two were connected through marriage.
    As the historian of the regiment wrote, Shorter had “every soldierly quality, from scrupulous neatness to unflinching bravery. He well merited the reputation of the best non-commissioned officer in the regiment. As such, he was selected for the first promotion from the ranks.” However, the army would not formally muster or recognize them as officers because of the color of their skin. Finally in the summer of 1865, when the fighting had ceased, the three men were officially commissioned as officers.
    African American soldiers in the Massachusetts regiments were promised equal treatment, including equal pay. However, the men received half of the pay that their white counterparts received. Shorter became a leading force in the fight for equal pay. To protest this pay inequality, the soldiers went without pay for a year and a half. In July 1864, the men reached out to the president himself. By October, they finally received full pay. In a celebration at their camp on Folly Island, Shorter spoke on behalf of the regiment, saying that it was their primary responsibility as men to “prove our fitness for liberty and citizenship, in the new order of things now arising in this, our native land.”
    Three weeks after this victory, the soldiers took up arms in the Battle of Honey Hill (South Carolina, November 1864). In this battle, Shorter was wounded in the leg, but he refused to stop fighting. As one soldier wrote, “Sergt. Shorter is wounded in the knee, yet will not go to the rear.” In August 1865, Shorter was honorably discharged, returning to Ohio to marry his fiancé. Sadly, Shorter succumbed to small pox, dying shortly before arriving home.
    Source: Nancy Bercaw, Curator, Slavery and Freedom
    Description
    A handwritten diary encased in a red leather cover with "Diary / 1865" embossed in gold lettering at top center surrounded by an ornate wreath. The diary is inscribed on the front endpaper in both pencil and ink. The diary begins with several printed pages including a page outlining eclipses that occurred in 1865, a calendar, a table of stamp duties and rates of postage. The diary entries were done predominantly in pencil. The diary begins on January 1, 1865 with the last entry occurring on September 30, 1865. The diary ends with a memorandum section and an accounts paid section. Both of these sections were used by Lieutenant John Freeman Shorter. A back pocket in the back of the diary contains two loose sheets of paper. One of the pieces of paper is a promotion certification for a second lieutenant in the 55th Massachusetts volunteer regiment. The document is written in ink. It is dated April 19, 1865. Additional notes are written in pencil on the other side of the document. The second piece of paper has a list of people’s names, dollar amounts and dates written on both sides in both ink and pencil.
    Transcription Center Status
    Transcribed by digital volunteers
    Topic
    African American
    Antislavery
    Communication
    Free communities of color
    Men
    Military
    Race discrimination
    United States Colored Troops
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection
    Object number
    2014.118.1a-c
    Restrictions & Rights
    Public domain
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Collection title
    Liljenquist Family Collection
    Classification
    Documents and Published Materials
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Exhibition
    Slavery and Freedom
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Carte-de-visite album of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment

    Carte-de-visite album of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment

    Created by
    Ritchie, John, American, 1836 - 1919
    Owned by
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Subject of
    54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, American, 1863 - 1865
    Photograph by
    Unidentified
    Medium
    leather, paper (fiber product), metal, albumen and silver on photographic paper on card mount
    Dimensions
    H x W x D (Closed): 6 5/8 × 6 × 2 7/8 in. (16.8 × 15.2 × 7.3 cm)
    H x W x D (Open): 6 3/4 × 13 1/2 × 2 11/16 in. (17.1 × 34.3 × 6.8 cm)
    Type
    cartes-de-visite
    albumen prints
    photograph albums
    Place depicted
    Morris Island, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
    Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    ca.1864
    Description
    An album of cartes-de-visite featuring men of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Volunteers, assembled by John Ritchie, the regimental quartermaster. The book has a tooled black leather cover with gold painted details. There is a floral decoration on the front cover and filigree on the spine. There are a pair of metal bands fixed to the front and back of the book, which are connected to clasps for holding the book closed. The lower clasp is missing. The interior of the book is composed of 25 stiff sleeves of paper which are open on the top for photo cards to be inserted. Each page is white and has a curved printed gold frame around an arched opening in the page. The book has 49 cartes-de-visite inserted into these sleeves which feature soldiers, officers, musicians, and other people or scenes related to the 54th Regiment. A number of the images have the name of the individual written beneath the photo on the sleeve in blue ink, which seem to be later additions. The backs of many of the cartes-de-visite have photographer information and handwritten notes identifying the sitter or year.
    Topic
    African American
    Antislavery
    Military
    Photography
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Garrison Family in memory of George Thompson Garrison
    Object number
    2014.115.8
    Restrictions & Rights
    Public Domain
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Media Arts-Photography
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Daguerreotype of William Lloyd Garrison

    Daguerreotype of William Lloyd Garrison

    Photograph by
    Cutting & Turner, American
    Subject of
    Garrison, William Lloyd, American, 1805 - 1879
    Owned by
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Medium
    silver amalgam, silver on copper photographic plates
    Dimensions
    H x W x D (Closed): 3 11/16 × 3 5/16 × 3/8 in. (9.4 × 8.4 × 1 cm)
    H x W x D (Open): 3 11/16 × 6 5/8 × 3/8 in. (9.4 × 16.8 × 1 cm)
    Type
    daguerreotypes
    portraits
    Place made
    10 Tremont Row, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    ca. 1860
    Description
    A daguerreotype of William Lloyd Garrison in a case. In the portrait, Garrison is wearing a suit and glasses and looking off to the left. The exterior of the case is black with gold trim. The interior has embossed red velvet on the left side and the photograph inside a gold oval frame on the right. The glass over the image is heavily scratched. Stamped into the bottom left corner of the frame: "CUTTING & TURNER / 10 TREMONT ROW". And in the bottom right corner: "AMBROTYPE. / PAT. JULY. 11-54"
    Topic
    African American
    Antislavery
    Photography
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Garrison Family in memory of George Thompson Garrison
    Object number
    2014.115.10
    Restrictions & Rights
    Public domain
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Media Arts-Photography
    Exhibition
    Slavery and Freedom
    On View
    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Traveling trunk used by George Thompson Garrison in the Civil War

    Traveling trunk used by George Thompson Garrison in the Civil War

    Manufactured by
    Crouch & Fitzgerald, American, founded 1839
    Owned by
    Garrison, George Thompson, American, 1836 - 1904
    Subject of
    55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, American, 1863 - 1865
    Medium
    wood, leather, cotton, metal
    Dimensions
    trunk: 18 × 31 × 17 in. (45.7 × 78.7 × 43.2 cm)
    insert tray: 3 9/16 × 29 5/8 × 15 3/4 in. (9 × 75.3 × 40 cm)
    canvas bag: 12 5/8 × 30 11/16 × 16 9/16 in. (32 × 78 × 42 cm)
    Type
    trunks (containers)
    Place made
    New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
    Place used
    Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
    South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
    Date
    ca. 1860
    Description
    A traveling trunk owned by George Thompson Garrison while serving as an officer with the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. The wood, leather bound trunk is embossed throughout with four rows of brass rivets along the front, top and back of the base and lid. The leather is also stitched along the edges and lip of the trunk. Two metal buckles attached to leather straps are on the left and right sides of the front. A leather strap is attached to the top left of the trunk but the top right strap is removed. The removed strap is broken into nine pieces and includes a meral buckle. The leather is a different color where the original strap was located. A hinged lock plate is on the front of the base with the locking mechanism directly above it on the lid. Embossed below the lock plate on the base is “CROUCH & FITZGERALD / MAKERS / New York.” Embossed on the left and right sides of the trunk is “Geo T. Garrison.” The interior of the trunk has a removable cloth lined tray and a red leather pouch embedded into the cloth lined lid. Underneath the tray is a canvas bag with “Geo T. Garrison.” printed on each side in black paint. The canvas bag is torn in several places.
    Topic
    African American
    Military
    Slavery
    United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
    Credit Line
    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
    Object number
    2010.24a-d
    Restrictions & Rights
    No known copyright restrictions
    See more items in
    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
    Classification
    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Tools and Equipment-Military
    Data Source
    National Museum of African American History and Culture