Why do we need a national
nonprofit membership society for American history?
“Save America’s Treasures” has been totally eliminated—the largest Federal program supporting preservation of such treasures as the original Star Spangled Banner and George Washington’s tent.
65% of Americans don’t know what happened at the Constitutional Convention, according to a recent survey by Newsweek.
The “Teaching American History” grants—the largest Federal program supporting history education—have been completely eliminated.
Visits to the Top 20 Civil War battlefields have dropped in half from 1970 to 2009 according to official National Park Service statistics.
40% of Americans can’t identify whom we fought in World War II, according to a recent survey by Newsweek.
A quarter of Americans believe Congress shares power over U.S. foreign policy with the United Nations, according to a recent Annenberg survey.
“There is little that is more important for an American citizen to know than the history and traditions of his country,” John F. Kennedy wrote in American Heritage.
The “We the People Program,” which touched some 30 million students and 90,000 teachers over 25 years, has been completely eliminated.
Two-thirds of Americans could not correctly name Yorktown as the last major military action of the American Revolution, according to a recent national Gallup survey.
The National Heritage Areas and Scenic Byways program, the only major Federal program encouraging visits to historic places, has been completely eliminated in Congressional committee.
This US Army Medical Department flag was hung outside of a house, church, barn or post to mark that the structure was being used as a hospital. The flag heading has "E&H" stamped on it. Evans and Hassall was business in Philadelphia that operated from 1859-1866. Army branches were assigned a color; sky blue for infantry, red for artillery, yellow for cavalry, and green for the medical branch.
Model 1851 rectangular brass sword belt plate with raised spread eagle and federal shield. This belt plate belonged to Daniel P. Reigle, 87th Pennsylvannia Volunteers.
This drawing of a log hut with a smoking chimney and two individuals standing inside the doorway has the following pencil inscription, “Winter Quarters on the Rapidan”. It was drawn on half of piece of foolscap and tri-folded. The artist, Jacob L. Bechtel, was a member of the 59th New York Volunteers.
Captain Henry C. Newton, 93rd New York and an unidentified Union officer seated in front of a tent. In ink on reverse is “Taken at Culpeper CH Va Oct 3d, 1863, Presented to Martin A Newton by his brother Henry C Newton Capt 93rd NY Vols. Camp near Brandy Station VA. Nov 17th 1863.”
This toothbrush was found on the Gettysburg battlefield after the battle. This comb's fine teeth allowed a soldier to comb disease-carrying lice out of their hair. This shaving mirror belonged to James King of Company G, 118th New York Infantry. It is designed so that it can be hung from a ring or use a fold-out stand.
Description (physical):
Toothbrush: L 16.6 cm. Lice Comb: Ivory; L. 6 cm, W 4.5 cm. Hand Mirror: Metal, glass; Dia 9 cm.
This ingenious metal shaving cup was made with a separate compartment to hold a shaving brush. It belonged to Isaac Harlow, Company A, 11th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. This shaving brush was used by Sgt. Emanuel Brailies, Company D, 110th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The shaving soap dish was used by James Parson, Company M, 102nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. This 'cut throat' razor was widely used.
Description (physical):
Shaving Cup: Metal; H 11 cm, Dia 7.5 cm. Shaving Brush: Wood, bristle; L 12.0, Dia 3.0 cm. Soap Dish: Wood; L 4.3, Dia 11.5 cm. Razor: Metal, bone; L 16.6, W 2.7, T 1.1 cm.
Photographs of family and friends helped remind soldiers of the life that awaited them once the war was over. Here, John Shipman, Company F, 13th Connecticut Infantry poses with his daughters Julia and Junie.
A soldier’s photograph was often sent home to his parents or a sweetheart. Here 2nd Lieutenant Henry Sheriff, Company C, 4th United States Colored Troops poses for a portrait in Alleghany, Pennsylvania.
All too often the high cost of duty is captured in images of young couples just starting a life together. Here George W. Sandoe and his wife Diana are seen in an ambrotype taken two years before George was killed in a skirmish with Confederate cavalry near Gettysburg on June 26, 1863.