Artifacts

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Search or browse the Dickinson College Artifact Collection.

Artifacts are related to the College or members of the College community.

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Penn Family Seal, c.1700

Round seal of reddish plaster with proprietary emblem of the Penn family.

Decade: Before 1779

Subject: Pennsylvania History

Format: Miscellaneous

Red Leather Wallet, 1769

A large wallet made of red leather with an ornate silver clasp (broken). The owner's name and the date, "WILLIAM TURNBULL 1769", are embossed in gold under the front flag of the wallet. The name "Alexander Turnbull" is also stamped on various...

Decade: Before 1779

Subject: Wallet

Format: Miscellaneous

Lancet

A brass medical instrument believed to have been used by Benjamin Rush to bleed his patients for medical treatments.

Decade: 1790-1799

Subject: Medical Equipment

Format: Miscellaneous

Benjamin Rush tankard, 1806

This Georgian silver mug belonged to Benjamin Rush. It was made in London in 1806.

Decade: 1800-1809

Subject: Tankard

Format: Miscellaneous

Rotating Beam Engine, c.1835

A machine with a wooden base, four black coils, brass scale and spinning wheel. The name J. W. Queen of Philadelphia appears on the wooden base.

Decade: 1830-1839

Subject: Scientific Equipment

Format: Scientific Equipment

Samuel Allen McCoskry brooch, c.1836

A miniature portrait of Samuel Allen McCoskry in enamel and framed. The reverse side of the portrait read "Bishop Coskry." McCoskry was a member of the Class of 1824.

Decade: 1830-1839

Subject: Portraits

Format: Pins/Buttons

Roger Brooke Taney Miniature Portrait, c.1840

Oval miniature portrait of Roger Brooke Taney, enclosed in brown molded leather case and framed by a gold plate, and lined with burgundy velvet fabric.

Decade: 1840-1849

Subject: Portraits

Format: Artwork/Photography

Early Electric Motor

A motor comprised on a brass-colored metal cylinder with several holes at the top of its sides and bottom. On the top between the two bent pipes sticking out is the text engraved ".01 - OHM MORRIS E. LEEDS & CO. PHILADELPHIA 3713". 

Decade: 1840-1849

Subject: Scientific Equipment, Electric Motor

Format: Scientific Equipment

Magic Lantern Slides

Multiple long glass plate slides painted with images to be used with a projector. A total of 18 slides are stored in two wooden boxes along with a black painted wood slide holder. One series of slides features signs of the zodiac and other...

Decade: 1840-1849

Subject: Scientific Equipment, Photography

Format: Scientific Equipment

Wooden Printing Frame, front

Wooden frame with a detachable center panel, iron strips and a dial in the center used to expose blue print photographs. 

Decade: 1850-1859

Subject: Photography, Picture Frame

Format: Artwork/Photography

Daguerreotype of Four Students, c.1855

Daguerreotype of four students from the class of 1857, including Jacob Stock and Gustavus Bird, in gold frame.

Decade: 1850-1859

Subject: Daguerreotype, Photography

Format: Artwork/Photography

James Buchanan Doré Coin, 1856

Bronze coin featuring James Buchanan bust and “No Sectionalism” on obverse and symbol for 31 states on reverse, issued for the 1856 presidential campaign. Donated by Boyd Lee Spahr, class of 1900, in 1960.

Decade: 1850-1859

Subject: Commemorative Medal, Political Campaign, Politics

Format: Currency/Medallions

Harriet Lane Tintype Case Interior

Tintype of Harriet Lane in a brown case with red velvet interior from around 1857. Lane, the niece of President James Buchanan, acted as First Lady of the United States from 1857 to 1861.

Decade: 1850-1859

Subject: Tintype, Photography

Format: Artwork/Photography

Time Capsule, 1857

A rectangular metal box with lid originally placed in the cornerstone of Emory Chapel in 1857. The inscription on the paper glued to the top of the lid reads "Box from Corner Stone of Emory Chapel."

Decade: 1850-1859

Subject: Time Capsule, Emory Chapel

Format: Miscellaneous

Daguerreotype of Samuel Cushman Caldwell, 1858

Daguerreotype of Samuel Cushman Caldwell, class of 1858, in carved black case with black velvet interior.

Decade: 1850-1859

Subject: Daguerreotype, Photography

Format: Artwork/Photography

Sigma Chi Fraternity Pin, c.1858

A small gold metal and white and black enamel Sigma Chi fraternity pin. The pin is in the shape of a white cross with a black circle in the center with the greek letters Sigma and Chi in gold. Each arm of the cross features a different symbol...

Decade: 1850-1859

Subject: Fraternity Pin, Greek Life

Format: Pins/Buttons

Ambrotype of President Charles Collins, c.1860

An ambrotype of Dickinson College President Charles Collins in a leather-bound, embossed case. Inside the case, the photograph is framed in a gold vignette, red cloth, and gold trim. The text on the gold frame reads “OUTTINGS PAT. JULY 4 & 1_...

Decade: 1860-1869

Subject: Photography, Ambrotype

Format: Artwork/Photography

Horatio Collins King Sash

Saber, scabbard and sash of Horatio Collins King (Class of 1858), from around 1861.

Decade: 1860-1869

Subject: Saber, Sword, Civil War, Military

Format: Weapons

Belles Lettres Society Rose, 1861

Faded pink silk roses and ribbon given to William Halbert (Class of 1865) upon his election to Belles Lettres Society in October 1861.

Decade: 1860-1869

Subject: Literary Societies, Student Life

Format: Miscellaneous

Theta Delta Chi fraternity pin, 1862

Blue, black, and gold shield with diamond chips in the stars which belonged to Charles String and Gordon Atkinson.

Decade: 1860-1869

Subject: Fraternity Pin, Greek Life

Format: Pins/Buttons

Tintype of John Taylor Cuddy, c.1862

A tintype photograph of John Taylor Cuddy wearing a Union uniform around 1862. The photograph is framed in a gold vignette frame and housed in a carved wooden case embossed with intricate floral designs.

Decade: 1860-1869

Subject: Photography, Tintype, Civil War

Format: Artwork/Photography

Union Philosophical Society pin, c.1860

Gold pin shaped like Union Philosophical Society symbol which belonged to Samuel Bean as a member.

Decade: 1860-1869

Subject: Honor Societies, Pins

Format: Pins/Buttons

Tintype of David Davidson Stone, 1863

Oval tintype of David Davidson Stone, class of 1859, wearing a Confederate uniform, in a gold-tone frame, 1863.

Decade: 1860-1869

Subject: Tintype, Photography, Civil War

Format: Artwork/Photography

Phi Kappa Psi fraternity pin, 1864

Shield of black and gold with fraternity symbols attached to stick pin with small chain, which belonged to James L. Norris.

Decade: 1860-1869

Subject: Greek Life, Fraternity Pin

Format: Pins/Buttons

Sigma Chi fraternity pin and flag, c.1865

Gold stick pin with fraternity symbol and 13-star flag, which belonged to John Franklin Goucher (Class of 1868).

Decade: 1860-1869

Subject: Greek Life, Fraternity Pin, Pins

Format: Pins/Buttons

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