1980.0171.009 A Paper, view 1
  • 1980.0171.009 A Paper, view 1
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Paper

  • Title:

    Specimen of Indian Hemp

  • Category:

    Works on Paper

  • Creator (Role):

    John Fanning Watson (Author)

  • Place of Origin:

    Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

  • Date:

    1820-1868

  • Materials:

    Paper; Ink

  • Museum Object Number:

    1980.0171.009 A


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1980.0171.009 A

Object Name

Paper

Title

Specimen of Indian Hemp

Category

Works on Paper

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Katherine H. Cole in memory of Wilford P. Cole.

Creator (Role)

John Fanning Watson (Author)
1779-1860

Place of Origin

Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Date

1820-1868

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Signature; Inside, below paragraph; "J.F. Watson" in cursive script, ink

Subjects

John Fanning Watson; Native American; Indigenous peoples

Materials

Paper; Ink

Dimensions (inches)

3.93 (H) , 6.25 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

10 (H) , 15.88 (W)

Object Description

Web - 05/30/2024

This loosely twisted coil of fibers has been kept together inside a folded piece of paper bearing an inscription indicating it was brought to Philadelphia antiquarian John Fanning Watson as a relic of Native American hemp (Virga) often used for fishing nets and other purposes. According to Watson's undated record, the coil was unearthed at a depth of 18 feet while a well was being created for the prison at Arch and Broad Streets. Watson kept the fibers and this historic account with other artifacts in a wooden chest.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Thesis] Stoehr, Lois Amorette. 2004 John Fanning Watson: Looking ahead with a backwards glance. M.A. University of Delaware Winterthur Program in Early American Culture

[Electronic] Piggush, Yvette. 10//2009 Fancy History: John Fanning Watson's Relic Box. 04/19/2010 http://www.common-place.org/vol-10/no-01/lessons/07.shtml
https://commonplace.online/article/fancy-history/
[Chapter] Stabile, Susan. Biography of a Box: Material Culture and Palimpsest Memory [Book] Tumblety, Joan. 2013 Memory and History: Understanding Memory as Source and Subject.