Annotated Catalogue of Relics in Memorial Room
Capt. Thos. Espy Post No. 153
G.A.R.
Library Building: Carnegie, Penna.
1911

The following items have not been matched with any of the items reported missing. "N" precedes each number.

N1. Springfield rifle, 1870, cal. 50/70, serial no. 1441; butt plate stamped 58 Bravo; on stock, near top, stamped #20; missing cap at end of stock (muzzle cap). Location: Section A. Need magnification for stock cartouche.

N2. Leather waist belt; Infantry, enlisted. Poor condition; no buckle; ripped in numerous places; two very large holes where keeper would be; leather is stiff and brittle. Location: Section A, Case 1.

N3. U.S.? saddle pockets; both flaps are missing, probably cut off. Poor condition; leather brittle and cracked. Location: Section A, Case 1.

Kepi to left with #236 cannot be matched with any catalogue number and may have been donated subsequently.

N4. G.A.R. kepi; #153 on front; leather chin strop and buckle intact; sweatband "E. D. Wilt Manf'r & Dealer in Military Police, Fireman's Goods & C 72 Smithfield St. Pittsburg, Pa." Fair condition. Location: Section A, Case 1. Acquired 1985. Belonging to Thomas Pascoe. Cap is dark blue wool, moth hole on rear seam; both buttons intact.

N5. G.A.R. certificate (membership); multicolor printing; given to Thomas C. Pascoe - 14 Nov. 1904; has official seal and ribbon, laminated, upper left corner is torn. Good condition. Location: Section A, Case 1.

Case A1. Display case; left hand door pane is cracked all the way across; should be replaced; left side glass is broken and missing; back of left side case is warped and has pulled away from back; both doors stick; right side is missing shelves.

Case B

Excellent condition; light fixture intact; podium - armchair oak and leather; condition of chair is good, leather is brittle but intact; some springs (2) protruding from under covering (N7)

(N8) table; cannon pedestal, oak top; nondescript, 12 x 12 top; good condition; black color

Top sword is engraved 36 and bottom sword (see entry below) is engraved 39.

(N9) G.A.R. ceremonial sword; scabbard - no hanger; hilt has leather wired grip. Scabbard stamped 36; no dents on scabbard; blade rusted. Fair condition.

N10. Bate's volumes 1-5; complete set, all need to be rebound. Poor condition.

N11. Tracing your Civil War ancestor by Bertram H. Groene (Winston-Salem, NC, John F. Blair, 1981). Good condition. Location: on top of display case C. Returned to ACFL in 2005.

N12. The Civil War: Strange and fascinating facts by Burke Davis (New York, The Fairfax Press, 1982). Good condition. Location: on top of display case C. Returned to ACFL in 2005.

N13 and N14. Pennsylvania @ Gettysburg vols. I and II, revised ed., 1904. Good condition; deterioration of binding (mildew). Location: on top of display case C.

N15. Pennsylvania at Cold Harbor. Listing of all Pennsylvania Volunteers who attended dedication of Pennsylvania monument at Cold Harbor. Poor condition; needs to be rebound. Location: on top of display case C.

N16. Pennsylvania at Culpeper Virginia. List of Pennsylvania Volunteers at dedication of Culpeper monument. Fair condition. Location: on top of display case C.

N17. Tin eagle; crossed canons; talons are grasping a sword; looks like it could be color standard; on a brass picture stand. Good condition. Location: on top of display case C.

N18. Horseshoe; metal; with G.A.R. Post on inside; with eagle over crossed muskets over top. Good condition. Location: on top of display case C.

© 2005 Michael L. Klein

N19. Tin star; 12" x 12" (approximately) with circle which reads "Grand Army of the Republic 1861 - Veteran - 1866"; on edge of star is stamp "[Schwaab ?] Stamp and Seal Co."; also stamped Milwaukee, WI. Fair condition.

N20. Rifle, Springfield, 1849; tang is stamped 1852; U.S. stamped on upper side of stock; no serial #; breech of stock stamped V.P.; also stamped P.B.; broken hammerscrew is missing head; stock is marked "H" (large) just in front of trigger guard; rear stock also has "H" engraving; has ramrod; Enfield bayonet stamped "U.S." Location: on top of display case C.

© 2006 Chris Smith

N21. Musket, Springfield, 182[4?]; lock plate has eagle with U.S. underneath it; trigger guard has "A.H."; in front; "B" at back end of trigger guard; on stock behind trigger guard "N.C." is stamped; below "N.C." is stamped "S.S." in an oval; missing hammer; on opposite side of lock assembly there is a stamp "S" with "SS" stamped repeated; has ramrod. A possible conversion from flintlock; if not, a very early percussion piece. Poor condition. Location: on top of display case C.

N22. Tin plate with corps badge; blue felt corps badge; moth holes; torn at top. Fair condition. Location: Section C, Case 1. See image at entry number 31.

N23. Epaulets (two); almost identical to Espy's; appear to be silver. Fair condition. Location: Section C, Case 2.

N24. Door lock. Fair condition. Location: Section C, Case 4. See image at entry number 108.

N25. Poem "Volunteer's Farewell" approximately 8"x10"; gold frame. Good condition. Location: Section C, Case 3.

Items include stogie, block of pine wood (22), strap (N30), chalk from canal bed (60), bayonets (169a, N28, N29 and N26).

N26. Bayonet; triangular pattern; 1873; .45-.70 Springfield; standard markings; blued. Fair condition. Location: Section C, Case 1.

N27. Bayonet; .58 caliber; Enfield; stamped 9068 on the socket. Poor condition. Location: Section C, Case 1. See image at entry number 41.

N28. Bayonet, .58 Enfield. Poor condition. Location: Section C, Case 1. See image at entry number N26.

N29. Bayonet; appears to be .58-.69 caliber; triangular; stamped with crossed rifles? Fair condition. Location: Section C, Case 1. See image at entry number N26.

N30. Strap (blanket?); complete; intact, 3/4" x 33". Fair condition. Location: Section C, Case 1. See image at entry number N26.

N31. Canteen; bullseye; on neck is stamped "Hadden Porter & Booth Phila."; with cork and canvas strap; no cover. Fair condition. Location: Section C, Case 5.

N32. Print "Camp Humphreys" See item 111!

© 2006 Chris Smith

N33. O.R. Union-Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion - Series I; missing volumes 6, 7, 8. Good condition. Location: D.

N34
1. Pieces of two belts, white leather.
2. Two G.A.R. belt buckles; rectangular; 1874 pattern; 1 1/2" x 2"; 5-pointed stars embossed in the middle,
       with grouping of figures in the middle of the stars, etc. Fair condition.
3. Volumes 1, 2 and 3. Message and documents, 1898-1899. Good condition.
4. Pennsylvania at Gettysburg; volumes 1 and 2. Poor condition.
5. Pennsylvania at Gettysburg; volumes 1 and 2. Fair condition.
6. G.A.R. National Encampment books, 8 total. Fair condition.
7. List of soldier's orphans leaving school in 1894.
8. Report of trustees of the Pennsylvania Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie.
9. Annual reports of the War Department: 1904 (vol. 3), 1902 (vol. 9), 1905 (vol. 3), 1908 (vol. 4), 1908 (vol. 2). Good condition.
10. Three full packs of the Memorial Hall relic booklets.
11. Stacks of 25th anniversary of Capt. Thomas Espy Post program.
12. Eight copies of 60 countries of human progress. Fair condition.
13. Journal of the Military Service Institution. Fair condition.
14. Assorted song books.

N35
1. Annual report of the Liet. General Commanding the Army; 5 vols. Good condition.
2. Volume for Message and documents.
3. War Department Annual Reports:
       1906 (vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10)
       1907 (vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10)
       1908 (vol. 1, 3, 7, 8, 9)
4. Stacks of programs (25th anniversary).
5. Annual report of Secretary of War 1906. Fair condition.
6. Another dozen of songsters.
7. A couple of encampment proceedings books.

N36. Sons of Veterans of the U.S.A. certificate; Capt. Espy Post, Camp #32, Division of Pennsylvania; dated Aug. 29, 1904; framed in oak; ornate; with mat; 2' x 4'. Certificate good to fair condition; frame excellent condition.

Commander's Wall Case, Section E
1. Right case.

Flag. Flag. Espy Post flag; approximately 4' x 5'; staff is 9' at least.Tear above G.A.R. emblem; spontoon top (finial) silver. Poor condition.

Flag; 2 1/2' x 4'; banner 8 blue stars; 1 gold star in white field; red border. Extremely poor condition.

Two banners. Ladies of Thomas Espy Post - G.A.R.; Espy Circle #190.

2. Left case.
Three white G.A.R. banners with sticks. Poor condition.
Two American flags; one approximately 18 x 24; one approximately 24 x 48; both 48 stars.
Platform, chairs, oak (two chairs); no seat on either.

© 2005 Michael L. Klein

Large chair, Commander's, swivel, casters, leather upholstery.

Armchair.

Top sword (see image at entry number N9 above) is engraved 36 and bottom sword is engraved 39.

Sword, ceremonial; with hangers and chain; in leather wrapped hilt; G.A.R. embossed on hand guard; with trophy of arms; has scabbard.
Two other desk chairs.
Cannon table with marble block.
Two desks.

© 2006 Chris Smith

© 2006 Chris Smith

N37. Watercolor of eagle; done on wallpaper; 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"; red eagle, outlined in black; "A. W. Va." is under the eagle; lettering is 1"; right side damage (5" x 1"); mounted on cardboard. Poor condition. Location: Section G, Case 1 (on top of case in front of Custer print).

See 141 under corps badges, the second from end of list!

N38. Artillery saber; length 32"; stand leather grip wrap; painted gold. Good condition. Location: Section G, Case 1.

See image at entry number 77.

N39. Framed G.A.R. charter; ornate oak frame, 19 1/2" x 24" +; charter granted Phila. 31st Dec. 1879; signed by Dep't Commander Geo. Lawrence Brown; red seal on lower left corner. Poor to fair condition. Paper is in poor condition; stained. Location: Section G, Case 2.

On 21 February 2007 the Carnegie Masons presented a check to the Andrew Carnegie Free Library toward restoration of the Espy Post. Conserving the charter was a priority. (Interestingly, the GAR ritual is based on that of the Masons.)

Left image: Before treatment; Right image: After treatment
The image on the left is darker and the one on the right lighter than the actual charter.

N40. Framed photograph "Miss Blanche Gray", 12" x 16 1/2"; "Chartier's [Cen. ?] May 30, 1907" under photo; elected daughter of Espy Post, Jan. 1907; photo is 6 1/2" x 9 1/2"; woman holding a newspaper, book ? Good condition. Location: Section: Section G, Case 2.

Senior Vice Commander's Wall

Chair; oak armchair; leather covered; seat has 7" tear; cracked in other areas. Poor condition.



Ceremonial sword and scabbard; with hanger; metal chain; rusty. Fair to good condition.

© 2005 Michael L. Klein

Flag case: National G.A.R. colors, 4'11" wide x 4' 2 1/2" high and fringe, gold 1 1/2" on 3 sides; staff 9' 4 1/2" from point to point, spear point on top; 5' 4" 2 blue and silver/white tassels knotted at top; fraying over wood dowels; ripped along pole at bottom approx. 8" where flag is wrapped around sewn onto flag pole; congressional medal of honor design in center 2' 1" tall from top of eagle's head to bottom point of star; 1' 1 1/2" wide at widest part of star, painted fold inscribed "Grand Army of the Republic, 1861 -- Veteran -- 1866"; ribbon red white and blue Union flag with field of 7 stars; red and white stripes show cracking; 5" x 2 1/4" rip 90 degrees; eagle on top of ribbon sitting on top of 2 crossed cannons; wingspread 1' wing tip to wing tip, facing to eagle's left; lettering on flag gold handpainted; above medal "Capt, Thos, Espy Post", letters approx. 3 1/4" tall; to left of medal "No" 5 1/4" x 3"; to right of medal "153"; numbers approx. 4 1/2"; centered directly under star of medal "G.A.R.", letters approx. 3" x 4"; below, 2nd line, "CARNEGIE, PA."; letters approx. 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"; coal dust contamination on fringes; navy blue silk background of flag in remarkably good condition; small stain approx. 2" from hoist side edge of flag about 1/2 way up flag; back side of flag, lettering reversed, medals as it should be; stains on fly side of flag approx. 11" in and 4" down from top. Poor condition.

Pedestal and spitoon (a non-period replacement?) on platform.

N41. Framed photograph Veterans of G.A.R. Post on front steps of library; wood frame; 4' x 5'; signed Mellon. Good condition. Location: Section G, Case 3.

RESTORED JAN 2003! See The Veterans Portrait (1905) on the Espy Post news page for close-up and identifications.

N42. Framed four-page newspaper, The Sunday Press Magazine Section, May 24, 1903, with feature article "Comrades in the White House." Exposed page is "The Last Grand Army Man's Lament," a drawing of a soldier and a poem by T. Reynolds Williams; wood frame (2 1/2" wide) 2' x 27"; two chips out of frame.. Poor condition. Two pieces missing on frame [illegible]; sliver missing inside of upper right corner. Location: Section G, Case 3.

N43. Framed photograph from 1888; "Survivers of the 61st P. Vols. at the dedication of their monument Gettysburg July 24, 1888."; photo is faded; wood carved frame; floral motif; frame is 3 3/4" wide, 27" x 22". Fair to good condition. Location: Section G, Case 3.

N44. Framed New York Herald; extra edition on the death of Lincoln; dated New York, Sat. April 15th, 1865; Hole No. 10459; features portrait of clean shaven Lincoln in center; dark wood frame (3" wide) 24" x 27". Good condition. Location: E Wall.

Jr. Vice Commander's Wall (Section F)

Vice Commander's oak armchair; leather seat and back; seat is disintegrated at bottom.

Pedestal table and spitoon on platform.

N45. Print; framed print of Union Commanders; Lincoln is in the middle; Hancock seated; the rest are standing; black wood frame. Fair to good condition. Location: Behind organ.

N46. Gettysburg Address; parchment paper; handwritten, 11 3/8" x 14 5/8"; modern wood frame, 1/2" wide; unpainted. Good condition. Location: Behind organ.

N47. Lord's Prayer and another composition; handwritten copy; Lord's Prayer is faded badly; inscribed on top "rendered, July, 24, 1822, in Charleston, S.C."; black wood frame, approximately 12" x 18". Fair condition. Location: Behind organ.

N48. [This item is frame for N32.]

N48. Wood frame; oak, 1 1/2"x 14" x 21"; varnished. Good condition. Loation: Behind organ.

N49. Portrait of Lincoln; on [illegible] is sketch of log cabin; copyright 1902 by Thos. Johnson; tag on back: "Dr. James H. Kinney 309 W. Main St. Carnegie, Pa 15106"; framed; gold wood and plaster frame; broken upper right corner; 19" x 23" . Good condition. Location: Behind organ.

N50. Large wood frame; oak; 2" wide, 25 1/2" x 32"; glass intact; partial wood back. Good condition. Location: Behind organ.

N51. Print of Woodrow Wilson; dark wood frame; 22" x 26"; glass intact; wood back. Good condition. Location: Behind organ.

N52. Soldier's Memorial of Co. H, 62nd Regt. Pa. Vol, 2nd Brigade 1st Div. 5th Army Corps; published Feb. 1864 by J. C. Fuller & Co., 234 Baltimore Street, Baltimore. Jerrod B. Fife promoted Corp. Sept. 30th, 1862; name is circled in red. Laminated; repair on back; transparent tape. Fair condition. Location: Behind organ.

N53. Framed print "The Birth of Our Nation's Flag"; oak frame; glass intact; 27" x 33". Good to fair condition: Location: Wall 3, leftmost corner above corner cabinet.

© 2005 Michael L. Klein

N54. Drum with sticks and slings; drum is broken (one head);16" around by 8 1/4" deep; two white cloth straps; intact; painted (faintly) on body of drum, which is metal. Poor condition. Location: Top of cupboard at Walls E and F.

N55. Three ring Union bullet, .58 caliber, found on the battlefield at Gettysburg, PA, donated by Helen Shick, Life Trustee, Andrew Carnegie Free Library, 29 Feb 2000.

Corner cupboards; includes the records of the Post. Good condition. Location: Walls E and F.

N56. Colt Army Pistol Model 1860, sr. no. 61612 [67612?]; brass trigger guard 54454, butt 51612. On top of barrel: Address COL. SAML COLI NEW YORK U.S. AMERICA. On cylinder: PAT. SEPT 10TH 1855. This model was extensively used during the Civil War, however it is unknown if this particular weapon was involved in action. Original owner was James A. Miller (photo in exhibition case), who served in the Union Army, was taken prisoner, and suffered from dysentery. Donated by Robert Stauffer, Glenshaw, PA, July 1998.

N56. Mid-19th century drum, manufactured by J. W. Horsthaus & Son, 51 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia, was used in training the St. Clair Guards prior to its mustering into the Civil War as the 62nd Pennsylvania. The militia would meet next to Captain Thomas Espy's white farmhouse, now the site of St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church, 2005 Mohawk Rd., Upper St. Clair. Drum previously in possession of Nancy Philips, great great granddaughter of Captain Espy, who grew up in that farmhouse. Donated by Elizabeth Edwards, May 2006, whose late husband was married to Philips until her death.

N57. Kepi worn by Private George B. Forsythe, who was mustered into the Union Army at age 17. With metal GAR pin. Label inside kepi is "GUSKY, The one price, clothier, hatter and furnisher, 300-400 Market St. [no city], Lot ___, Price ___." Donated by his granddaughters Virginia Forsythe Rye and Wanda Forsythe Clay, May 2006.

Left: 1-3 below; Right: 4-6 below.

N58. Various medals and ribbons belonging to George B. Forsythe and donated by his granddaughters Virginia Forsythe Rye and Wanda Forsythe Clay, May 2006:

1. pin labeled on back "Official Souvenir, Schwaab S. & S. Co., Milwaukee." Souvenir of 53rd National GAR encampment, Oct 6-10, 1902 in Washington, D.C. Top of pin has red G, white A, blue R with word "Washington" in front of GAR letters. "Schwaab" also on top of pin. Suspended from pin by small rings is eagle over an oval showing two small figures and U.S. Capitol. Below Capitol is circular bust of Washington (?) and 3 of 5 points of GAR star. Actual pin for attachment to blouse missing.
2. two beige-color ribbons with some fringe: (a) 5" x 1" PENNSYLVANIA and (b) 4 1/2" x 1 1/2" U.V.L. [Union Veterans Legion] with this monogram and 1861-1865 in shield.
3. pin with red ribbon "Post 162, Allegheny Penn'a" with overlay of second smaller ribbon similar to National Flag attached to circular medallion depicting GAR badge on white keystone with red background. Ribbons are attached to pin by brass scroll. Longer red ribbon has fringe at bottom. "W & H Co., Newark, N.J."
4. pin with shield of UVL and 1861-1865 (made by Panier Bros., 544 Smithfield St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 3 ribbons attached: red "Union," white "veteran," and blue "Legion."
5. 1 medal with eagle at top and "Souvenir"; attached shield is "Sesqui-Centnnial Celebration 1908, Pittsburgh, Pa." and "The Seal of the City of Pittsburgh"
6. metal pin with blue ribbon and gold lettering. Pin has "Pennsylvania Day" attached to top. Gold lettering on ribbon "Vicksburg Miss. March 24th, 1906." Gold-colored fringe at bottom. White label on rear of ribbon. "J.H. Shaw Co., No. 1326 Arch St, Philadelphia, Pa. manufacturers of badges, buttons, portraits, banners and flags." Ribbon detached from metal holder with two fragments of ribbon.

N58. Kepi with numerals 236. See image at entry number N4.

N59. Trapdoor post-war conversion of 1861 Springfield rifle with Enfield front band and Enfield cleaning rod, modified as trapdoor breech loader, 1870 date on door, serial 46632. Returned June 2007, but cannot be matched with any artifacts in the 1911 catalogue.Upper image on right is N59 (with trapdoor open).

The following item has not been found though an 1887 newspaper describes its presentation: 45-star US flag presented by ladies in May 1887.

Catalogue page 12 contains photographs of the Commander's chair and Adjutant's desk (top) and Junior Vice Commander's chair (bottom) and page 13 contains photographs of the Senior Vice Commander's chair (top) and Chaplain's chair and Quartermaster's desk (bottom). Please note that the photographs in the 1911 catalogue are of extremely poor quality, and the scanning has not improved them. See two of the original photographs at Espy Post; alas, the other two photographs are missing.

• Items 001-050
• Items 051-100
• Items 101-121
• Items 122-140
• Items 141-150
• Items 151-176
•     #174 - Orderly Book of the St. Clair Guards (1844-1860)
• Newly catalogued items THIS IS THE FINAL DOCUMENT IN THIS CATALOGUE SEQUENCE.

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