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Case for Top Hat

DateDimensionsAccession_numberMaterials
1870-1890H:13 1/2" D:44"-32"769Leather

Leather carrying case for Benjamin Harrison's top hat. Case: Leather shows signs of red rot. Straps broken, rim of lid coming detached from both sides, and general marks and scuffs on leather. Labels on bottom and sides of case some partially missing. Black label on side for "Langham - Hotel / Paris" dates from 1899 as this is where Benjamin Harrison stayed during the Venezuela Border dispute legal case. Interior of case is red silk and layered to fit hat.

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Case for Top Hat

Leather carrying case for Benjamin Harrison's top hat. Case: Leather shows signs of red rot. Straps broken, rim of lid coming detached from both sides, and general marks and scuffs on leather. Harrison's black silken top hat lays next to the case for scale and reference.
Opened view of the top hat case. Shows a red velvet interior shaped to accommodate the hat.

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Gold flowered silk one piece dress marked as being Caroline Harrison's. Fabric is a gold color and different shades outlined in black of a design of long stemmed flowers. Like a poppy or daisy. Lace trimmed collar and cuffs. Lined, bottom edge of skirt inside small ruffle of a stiff netting. 13 buttons on front of bodice. Bodice attached at back with skirt. Metal stays some coming through fabric.

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Opened view of the top hat case. Shows a red velvet interior shaped to accommodate the hat.

Hat Case

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Benjamin Harrison's silk top hat on top of a leather carrying case. Black satin or silk hat. the hat is 6 inches tall with a slight bowed flare toward the middle the stack; seams on both sides; a band to cover the joining of stack and brim is missing except on the right front; a partial bow is placed on the right side; stitches are showing where band would have been.

Top Hat

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Inside cover is heavy cardboard, red edges come out farther than the wood. Inside is pale green. Between each page is a layer of tissue paper. The book is written in Hebrew and opens from right to left. Pages appear to be done by hand.
Oak case with iron dumbbell shaped weights (5) on ropes to be pulled, eight sets of wooden dumbbells and pair of Indian clubs. Metal plate:
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Oil on canvas by Lilly M. Spencer (Lilly Martin Spencer) of Caroline Scott Harrison in profile view. Spencer signature is in lower left (not visible when portrait is in frame). Many engravings and prints were made from this image of Caroline Harrison. She is wearing a dark dress with white lace trim at the high neck, gold earrings, and hair is pulled back in a bun. Background is green in varying dark to medium shades. Pat. date of 1885 on metal corner brackets of wooden stretcher.
Closeup of the engraved glass on the door. Shows french style patterning with curves and hard edges.
Photograph (sepia tone) mounted on heavy board. Images shows 1888 Campaign Ball with D. E. Brockett (designer and builder) standing to the left with other men behind him and to the right side of the ball. There is also a stack of lumber to the back on the right and a shed type building to the left. Below image on board is the following information:
This is a close up from the piece of paper on which the illustration was made. The artist has droppings of water colors here, likely used to as a test.
This close up of Caroline's gold dress shows an inscription on the inside that reads,
A certificate for a Naval Commission from signed by Ulysses S. Grant for John Parker to be promoted to Ensign in the Navy starting on July 17, 1875. Signed and issued on January 9, 1877. Grant's signature under text at lower right. Also signed by Secretary of Navy Geo. W. Robeson. George Maxwell Robeson (March 16, 1829 – September 27, 1897) appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant as Secretary of the Navy on June 25, 1869. Image of the eagle on top center; bottom center has a blue seal with image of Poseidon coming out of the sea with maidens, etc.
Photograph of crowd in front of Harrison's North Delaware Street home in 1888. Benjamin Harrison is standing near the front door slighlty to the left. Image shows the front of the house as it looked in 1888, picket fence at front sidewalk, and crowd of mostly men and young boys. A few women stand behind Harrison at the front door. The crowd is lined up on the rightside of the walk leading to the front door, in the yard to the left, and on the front sidewalk to the left.
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Original Harrison large rosewood and satinwood Renaissance Revival bed. Satinwood panel in tall head board. Large Egyptian medallion in center of head board that matches smaller medallions in chairs. The head board is 8 feet tall with squared feet. Squared urn design on foot board. Foot board has round massive legs. Ornamental pieces in medallions, scrolls, etched designs, etc.
Closeup on the ribbon on the metal. Appears to be a sleek blue and white fabric with light bouncing off.
Photograph showing finer details on the dress skirt. There skirt is ornately connected with buttons and lining the accents vertically, in gold. The fabric is lightly wrinkled.
Crazy quilt with velvet boarder, mostly silk fabric in the pattern. Signatures include, Rutherford B. Hayes, Mrs. James K. Polk, John Wanamaker, Julia D. Grant, W. T. Sherman / general, Benj. Butterworth / Ohio, Agnes Author McElroy, Grover Cleveland, Frances Cleveland, T. DeWitt Talmage, and John J. Ingalls.
Hebrew Book

In sacred memory

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