Handpainted drum used by musician William H. Berry, Co. K, 12th NJ Volunteer Infantry. Private collection. Photo courtesy Paul Loane.
“Gone For A Soldier:” Jerseymen in the Civil War
Through July 1, 2012
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum in collaboration with the New Jersey Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee (NJCW150) presents a major exhibit, “Gone for a Soldier:” Jerseymen in the Civil War.
The exhibit brings together about 200 objects from nearly thirty museums, historical societies, and private collections. Notable objects in the exhibit are the infantry coat that George Thompson of the 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry wore the day he was wounded; and the historic drum, decorated with hand-painted patriotic motifs, carried by a musician in Company K, 12th New Jersey Infantry in famous battles such as Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
The exhibit was recently covered in the New York Times Antiques section by Eve M. Kahn, who wrote: “In the sesquicentennial commemorations of the Civil War regional exhibitions so far have covered topics as narrow as battlefield doctors from Albany, and Kentucky families divided by sympathies for the North and South. Troops from the New York region are only now receiving their share of museum attention.” Read the full article:
A comprehensive collector’s catalog of the exhibit is available in the Museum Shop or you can order one online! The catalog includes color images of nearly every object in the exhibit and retails for $20.00.
Throughout the course of the exhibit, the museum will offer related programs, including lectures, book signings, and family-friendly events. Program announcements will be posted on the museum’s website and Facebook page.
Click here for more information on the upcoming lecture series featuring noted Civil War historians.
Patriotic Civil War Covers
February 2012
A selection of American Civil War patriotic “covers” will be on display in the Center Hall of the museum again in February. These envelopes bear patriotic illustrations and messages and provide an unusual insight into a turbulent and fascinating period of American history. The designs reflect patriotism and the sentimentality as well as realities of a soldier’s life in war with documentation of great battles, tributes to heroes, or biting satires on opposing views. The display includes a selection of letters penned by Lindley Hoffman Miller (1834-1864), a grandson of George and Louisa Macculloch. Miller served in the Civil War first as a Private in the New York Seventh Regiment, then as a Captain in the First Regiment of Arkansas Volunteers of African Descent. He was later promoted to Major in the Fifth Regiment Missouri Colored Troops (72nd United States Infantry Colored).
Here Comes Santa Claus!
Through January 29, 2012
Here Comes Santa Claus! in the upstairs gallery of the museum features thirty images of Santa Claus including several from the museum’s Thomas Nast collection, and a wonderful collection of rare Santa Claus figures, and various examples of decorative Christmas objects from the 1860s through the early 20th century. Antique German figural candy containers, exceptional Santa Claus and Belsnickel figures, early Christmas feather trees and ornaments are some of the objects on exhibit. In keeping with the museum’s Civil War Christmas theme, some of the Santas are dressed in red, white and blue and hold American flags; two toy drums complement the four military drums on exhibit in the main gallery.
The Original Thomas Nast
Thomas Nast, self portrait
Second Floor, Nast Gallery: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is fortunate to have an extensive collection of the original works of Thomas Nast, the famed political cartoonist who gave us the Democratic Donkey, Republican Elephant, and today’s image of Santa Claus.
