- On View
- Slavery and Freedom Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Exhibition
- Slavery and Freedom
- Created by
- Unidentified
- Owned by
- The Right Reverend Allen, Richard, American, 1760 - 1831
- Tanner, Benjamin Tucker, American, 1835 - 1923
- Subject of
- African Methodist Episcopal Church, American, founded 1816
- Date
- early 19th century
- Medium
- wood, iron, brass (alloy), leather and paper (fiber product)
- Dimensions
- H x W: 4 3/4 x 9 3/4 x 5 1/2 in. (12.1 x 24.8 x 14 cm)
- Description
- Money box that belonged to the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church, Bishop Richard Allen. The rectangular box is flat on all sides with a flat bottom. It has a slightly domed top with a horizontal 1 7/8" slot in the center. The brass handle on the top is joined to the box by flat circular disks on either side of the slot. The top of the box is a hinged lid, attached in the back with two hinges. The box is constructed of wood and covered in dark, reddish-brown leather. There is a metal locking mechanism nailed to the front of the box, with a hinged piece that fits into a slot on the lock attached to the center front of the lid. Brass nails with circular heads are lined along the edges of the lid and front and back edges. Smaller brass nails surround the bottom edge of the box and side panels. There is a rectangular piece of off-white, discolored paper adhered to the center of the bottom of the box. Handwritten text in black ink on the paper reads [(illegible) / Rev. C. M.(?) Tanner D.D.(?) / 1 Dec. 1906 / Phila. / The Money Box of Richard Allen]. The inside of the box appears to have been lined with paper, with remnants visible on all inside surfaces. The inside of the lid and back edge contain the most complete pieces. The paper is white with a red circular repeating design.
- Place used
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Slavery and Freedom Objects
- Sacred and Ceremonial Objects
- Type
- boxes (containers)
- Topic
- African Methodist Episcopal
- Methodist
- Religion
- The Black Church
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture; Gift of the Bishop Frederick and Mrs. Artishia Jordan Scholarship Fund
- Object number
- 2013.56.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




