Upholstered wingback commode chair has four turned Sheraton legs. Has replacement of original soiled handsewn homespun linen (remnants in this file), now an orange fabric with potted and vining flower design. Solid pinewood seat under cushion has center hole with fitted removable wooden disc.
This chair was from the Pownall home at Gap, where it was used by Dickinson Gorsuch, Maryland slaveholder, during his recovery from wounds sustained during the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851. His father and two others were killed during the skirmish at the home of freedman William Parker, and Dickinson was transported to the Pownall home for recovery. William Parker later published his story in the "Atlantic Monthly" in 1866, making it highly publicized.
This incident "is an important example of the struggle over the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the escalating tension between the North and the South. This act gave slave owners broad powers to recapture runaway slaves". (ExplorePAhistory.com)
Polaroid photos of chair before re-upholstery, in file.
Likely Lancaster or Chester Co.
Provenance
Provenance: Chair owned by the Pownall family & given in 1973 to the Lancaster County Historical Society by Mrs. Levi Pownall of Lancashire Hall (569-7279).
It was initially loaned to the Heritage Center (# L.77.9 and # 161.64.80) but soon donated to HCLC. Board minutes of Dec. 8, 1975 include Richard F. Smith's Museum Committee report noting a donation of a "Sheraton armed wing chair commode, used by the Pownall home in nursing Dickinson Gorsuch following Christiana Riot in 1851." Later unsigned note (Bruce Shoemaker?) states John Aungst of LCHS was consulted & chair was removed 11/9/84 from list on LCHS loan form, settling an apparent question of ownership.
Letter from Samuel [Burn] to John B. Eshleman. Written from somewhere along the Potomac River in Maryland during the Civil War. Describes troop movements, life in camp, and interactions with enslaved persons. With photocopy.
Admin/Biographical History
John B. Eshleman was born 11 February 1839 in West Hempfield Township. He had a common school education and taught in West Hempfield and Columbia for 36 years. In 1880 he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Legislature. He served two terms as a Lancaster County Commissioner beginning in 1893. He was also a justice of the peace. He died 21 June 1906 and is buried at Ironville Methodist Church Cemetery in West Hempfield Twp.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Object ID, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, this document reflects the racial prejudices and actions of the era. In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
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Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Accession Number
2003.MG0917
Other Numbers
MG-917
Other Number
MG-917, Folder 1, Insert 2
Classification
MG0917
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Transferred from Document Collection Box 33, Folder 7, Items 1-7, 14 April 2022.
Digitization of this document was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 202010016624, 2020-2023.
Letter from Rev. Samuel Fallows to Rep. Griest and Griest's response
Description
Letter from Rev. Samuel Fallows to Rep. Griest requesting support for H.R.15733. The bill was introduced by Rep. Madden to promote the National Half-Century Anniversary of Negro Freedom exposition in Chicago in 1915. Pencilled at bottom of letter “I will support this. WWG.” Letterhead of the Illinois Commission for the National Half-Century Anniversary of Negro Freedom which lists officers and committee members, Chicago, Illinois.
Letter from Rep. Griest to Rev. Samuel Fallows in reply to Fallows' letter.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), William Walton Griest Collection (MG0065), Series #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, this document reflects the racial prejudices and actions of the era. In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
Unknown.MG0065
Other Numbers
MG-65, Series 25
Other Number
MG-65, Series 25, Folder 62, Insert 7, Item 5
Classification
MG0065
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Originally cataloged by KC, 2002-2003. The project was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Archives and Records Management Grant, ME 230340, 2002-2003.
Digitization of these documents was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 202010016624, 2020-2023.
Page 12: Jackson Lake, Sebring, Florida; In old Georgia cotton field; Etta and three African American children, Sebring, Florida; Sally Lovett; Jennie McMichael.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Page 28: Boating on Jackson Lake, Sebring, Florida, the Rogers tribe; Frank, Laura, James, Bertha, Mildred and Joe McMichael, Plum Street, 1912; Dad, Ed S., George D., fishing at Liberty Grove, Md., 1936; Uncle J., Bill, Jim S., Laura McMichael, Bertha McMichael, Frank McMichael, Darlington, Md., 1914; Mom S. with an African American boy on her lap.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Page 31: Unidentified older couple; Uncle George S., carte de visite by Tyler, Easton, PA; Uncle John S., carte de visite by W. H. Heiss, Strasburg, 1860; African American men sitting on a porch, Sebring, Florida, 1936; Boat from Baltimore, N. Beach, Chesapeake Bay, 1934.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.