About This BlogAn archive of objects from the museum collections at Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site that have been previously featured on the site's "Object of the Month" web site. Prince of Mantua and Montferrat Medal
April 01, 2024
An honorary medal awarded to Henry W. Longfellow by Charles Ottley Groom Napier, the self-styled Prince of Mantua and Montferrat. Poison Children's Book
February 27, 2024
An 1850 edition of "A Treasury of Pleasure Books for Young Children", with a bright green, and possibly toxic, cover. Winter Scene Watercolor
January 31, 2024
A watercolor of a winter scene by Edith Longfellow, aged 9. 1853 Christmas Party Print
January 02, 2024
A print depicting a Christmas party from an 1853 issue of Godey's Lady's Book. Bronze Bat Incense Burner
November 29, 2023
An 19th-century incense burner in the shape of a bronze bat, from China or Japan. Siege of Paris Souvenir
October 02, 2023
A souvenir from the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. Children's Book Illustrated by Eleanor Vere Boyle
August 30, 2023
A Victorian era children's book illustrated by Eleanor Vere Boyle. Massachusetts Women's Centennial Committee Medal
July 28, 2023
An 1876 Massachusetts Women's Centennial Committee Medal, with accompanying note written by Henry W. Longfellow. Painted Rock
June 29, 2023
A small painted rock given to Charles A. Longfellow in 1865 by Miss Sarah Clark. 19th Century Portable Writing Desk
May 30, 2023
A wooden, portable travel desk that belonged to Frances E. Appleton in the 1830s. A Set of 19th Century Dentures
April 04, 2023
A set of 19th century dentures with a gold plate and false teeth. Bronze Crane Japanese Incense Burner
March 01, 2023
A Japanese bronze incense burner in the form of a crane. An 1870 musical arrangement of Henry W. Longfellow's poem "Snow Flakes".
February 02, 2023
Sheet music of Henry W. Longfellow's poem "Snow Flakes" arranged in 1870. "The Midnight Ride of Santa Claus" Printing Block
January 09, 2023
A printing block made to illustrate Harry Dana's parody of Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride". Japanese Fan Painting
October 31, 2022
A 19th century Japanese fan painting of a crane flying over waves. Mechanical Walking Doll
September 30, 2022
A mechanical walking doll toy made by Ives and Blakeslee. Federal Period Fire Screen Panel
July 29, 2022
A Federal period fire screen panel featuring a silk peacock design. Doll's Dining Set and Duck Box
May 02, 2022
A doll's dining set and duck-shaped papier-mache box from luxury French retailer A. Giroux Thomas Gold Appleton's Wedgwood Clock
March 31, 2022
A blue and white Wedgwood clock that belonged to Thomas Gold Appleton. Parian Figurine of Ganymede and Zeus
March 01, 2022
A parian figurine of Greek mythological figure Ganymede and Zeus, by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. Louis Prang Longfellow Christmas Card
December 23, 2021
A Christmas card by Louis Prang featuring Henry W. Longfellow and his poetry. Ojibwe Birchbark Certificate
November 29, 2021
A birchbark certificate written in Ojibwe presented to Alice M. Longfellow, c. 1900. Ellen Robbins Autumn Leaves Watercolor
November 01, 2021
A watercolor of maple leaves from Ellen Robbins's 1868 books "Autumnal Leaves". Marble Cornice Fragment
August 31, 2021
A fragment of carved marble, possibly from Cicero's villa in Tusculum, near Rome. Frances Longfellow Summer Sketch
July 30, 2021
A sketch by Frances Appleton Longfellow of children on a summer day in western Massachusetts. Longfellow's Copy of The Compleat Angler
April 30, 2021
Henry W. Longfellow's copy of the fishing treatise "The Compleat Angler". Harriet Spelman Longfellow Painting
April 01, 2021
An 1899 watercolor of an Italian landscape by Harriet Spelman Longfellow. Donation Acknowledgment for 40th Colored Infantry Regiment
March 01, 2021
Certificate given to Henry W. Longfellow by the state of Massachusetts for a donation to raise black soldiers for the Union Army. Fulper Pottery Flower Frog
February 01, 2021
An early 20th century Fulper Pottery flower frog in the form of a duck. Bronze Inkwell
June 30, 2020
A bronze inkwell given to Henry W. Longfellow by Irish literary critic S.C. Hall. Stereo Card Viewer
April 30, 2020
A Holmes style stereo card viewer owned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Wayside Inn Painting
February 28, 2020
A nineteenth century painting of the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Bohemian Glass Vase
January 28, 2020
A Bohemian glass vase that belonged to Frances Appleton Longfellow. Henry Wadsworth's Lacquered Box
January 02, 2020
A black lacquered box that belonged to Henry Wadsworth, uncle to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow Family Tomb Key
November 26, 2019
The key to the Longfellow family tomb in Portland Maine's Western Cemetery. Coral and Silver Baby Rattle
October 02, 2019
A silver and coral baby rattle given by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to his niece. Henry W. Longfellow Report Card
September 03, 2019
A Louis XIV style boullework clock given to the Longfellows as a gift by Thomas Gold Appleton. Albert Bierstadt Painting
August 02, 2019
Albert Bierstadt's painting of The Departure of Hiawatha from Longfellow's epic poem The Song of Hiawatha, showing Hiawatha paddling a canoe into the sunset. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Inkwell
July 02, 2019
An inkwell of French design, reported to be Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's favorite. Bust of Jupiter
May 31, 2019
A 19th century plaster copy of a Roman sculpture in the Vatican Museums' collection that was owned by the Longfellow family. Japanese Buddhist Temple Statuette
April 29, 2019
A 19th-century Japanese Buddhist temple statuette collected by Charles Appleton Longfellow. Chinese Fingernail Protectors
April 02, 2019
A pair of silver fingernail guards obtained by Charles Longfellow in China. Longfellow's Chestnut Chair Book
March 01, 2019
A carved wood panel on the inside front cover of a book showing a scene from Longfellow's poem "The Village Blacksmith". Charles Appleton Longfellow Sketches
January 30, 2019
Sketches done by Charles Appleton Longfellow, given to his father as a Christmas gift when he was six years old. Joseph G. Thorp Golf Photographs
September 14, 2018
A series of early 20th century images of Joseph G. Thorp practicing his golf swing. Eastern Yacht Club Pin
August 01, 2018
A pin for the yacht Alice, owned by Thomas Gold Appleton and Charles Appleton Longfellow, members of the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Art Nouveau Mustard Pot
March 01, 2018
An Art Nouveau style mustard pot that belonged to Alice Longfellow. The Country Club Autumn Cup
December 05, 2017
The Country Club Autumn Cup for 1887, won by Charles A. Longfellow. Bat Kimono
November 01, 2017
A mid-late 19th-century kimono decorated with bats that belonged to Charles Longfellow. Garfield Railroad Spike
October 10, 2017
A spike from the railroad built to carry President Garfieldin to a seaside cottage in Elberon, New Jersey to carry President Garfield in 1881. Maine Camping Photograph
August 31, 2017
An 1873 photograph of Alice Longfellow and company while camping in the Maine North Woods. Dana Beach Painting
August 01, 2017
A painting of Dana Beach in Manchester By The Sea, Massachusetts, by Ernest Wadsworth Longfellow. Selenus Style Chess Set
July 10, 2017
A Selenus style chess set probably dating to the early 19th century. Appleton Sisters Portrait
April 28, 2017
A portrait of Fanny and Mary Appleton done by Jean-Baptiste Isabey in 1836. Chinese Tea Caddy
April 03, 2017
A late 19th century Chinese tea caddy probably acquired by Charles A. Longfellow. Evangeline Pencil
March 07, 2017
The pencil with which Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the initial draft of "Evangeline". Bronze Greyhound Statuette
February 03, 2017
A bronze statuette of a greyhound by French sculptor Pierre-Jules Mêne, given as a New Years gift to Fanny Longfellow by her husband Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Mid-19th Century Moving Toy
January 03, 2017
A mid-19th century cart toy with moving parts that belonged to Ernest Longfellow. Durs Egg Shotgun
December 07, 2016
A shotgun, made by the Durs Egg Company, which belonged to Charles Appleton Longfellow. 19th Century Stereograph Card
October 06, 2016
A stereograph card of the Mettray Penal Colony in France, collected by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, Jr. Yacht Alice Painting
August 01, 2016
A painting of Thomas Gold Appleton's yacht Alice crossing the Atlantic in 1866. Frozen Charlotte Figurine
May 02, 2016
A "Frozen Charlotte" figurine found on the Longfellow property during an archaeological dig. Bronze Cigar Holder
March 01, 2016
A bronze figural cigar holder given to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as a gift. Civil War Cavalry Saber
January 08, 2016
A Civil War cavalry saber that belonged to Charles Appleton Longfellow. Portland Cutter Sleigh
January 30, 2015
A Portland Cutter sleigh, manufactured by the Kimball Bros. firm, that belonged to the Longfellow family. Santa Claus Letter
December 22, 2014
A letter to Santa Claus, written by Ernest W. Longfellow, ca 1850. Miniature Moccasins
December 01, 2014
A pair of miniature moccasins sent to Henry W. Longfellow by missionary Mary Collins in 1882. French Cartoon
October 29, 2014
A hand colored lithograph from French caricaturist J.J. Grandville's 1829 work Les Métamorphoses du Jour. Chinese Bronze Jar
August 27, 2014
A Chinese bronze jar acquired by Charles A. Longfellow during a trip to China. Wedding Anniversary Mirror
August 05, 2014
A mirror given by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to his wife Frances on their fourth wedding anniversary in 1847. Longfellow House Stationery Box
May 30, 2014
A stationery box in the shape of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Cambridge home. Central Mining Company Currency
April 28, 2014
Privately issued currency from the Central Mining Company of Michigan. Mourning Ribbon
March 31, 2014
A mourning ribbon from Senator Charles Sumner's funeral, worn by Henry W. Longfellow. Parian Jar
February 03, 2014
A parian jar given to Henry W. Longfellow by British literary critic S.C. Hall. Neapolitan Mandolin
August 02, 2013
An eighteenth century mandolin made in Naples, Italy by lutier Donatus Filano. The Iron Pen
May 01, 2013
A pen made of gold, iron, wood and semiprecious stones given to Longfellow in 1879. English Longfellow Memorial Association Book
January 01, 2013
Book of letters from supporters of the English Longfellow Memorial Association. |
Last updated: April 30, 2013