John Brown 37 items
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- Exhibit Description:
- Photograph of John Brown after he began wearing a beard, taken in 1858 or 1859. This is the last known photographed portrait of John Brown.
- Attribution:
- Lawrence, Martin M. (attributed)
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of the Library of Congress
- Exhibit Tags:
- Library of CongressJohn Brownphotographs
2. John Brown
- Exhibit Description:
- Marble bust of John Brown sculpted by Edward Augustus Brackett,1860. Size: 28" x 20.5" x 12.5".
- Attribution:
- Brackett, Edward Augustus
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the Tufts University Permanent Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownEdward Augustus BrackettStearns EstatesculpturesTufts University Permanent Collection
- Exhibit Description:
- Oil on canvas mural of John Brown in Kansas.
- Attribution:
- Curry, John Steuart
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Arthur Hoppock Hearn Fund, 1950
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownpaintingsMetropolitan Museum of Art
- Exhibit Description:
- The damaged bust of John Brown undergoing 3D scanning for restoration. This photograph was taken in May 2016.
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the Tufts University Permanent Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownTufts UniversityTufts University Permanent CollectionEdward Augustus Brackettsculpturesphotographs
- Exhibit Description:
- Perhaps the first publication of the text of the "John Brown Song," with the notation at the bottom reading, "From an Original in the Possession of Mr. Abram E. Cutter of Charlestown." Republished in George Kimball, "Origin of the John Brown Song", New England Magazine, vol. 7, no. 4 (1889), 374.
- Attribution Statement:
- Image from Wikimedia Commons
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownCivil WarbroadsidesWikimedia Commonsmusicpublications
- Exhibit Description:
- Quarter-plate daguerreotype of John Brown holding what is believed to be an antislavery flag. This is the earliest photograph of John Brown known to exist. It was taken by black photographer Augustus Washington in Hartford, Connecticut.
- Attribution:
- Washington, Augustus
- Attribution Statement:
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; purchased with major acquisition funds and with funds donated by Betty Adler Schermer in honor of her great-grandfather, August M. Bondi
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownphotographsSmithsonian National Portrait Gallery
- Exhibit Description:
- Etching by Victor Hugo of John Brown hanging on the noose after his execution in Charles Town, (West) Virginia, December 2, 1859. While in exile on the Isle of Guernsey, Hugo wrote an open letter requesting that Brown be pardoned; that letter was in fact written the day of Brown's execution. This sketch was used as the frontispiece for a treatise that Hugo published the following year.
- Attribution:
- Hugo, Victor
- Attribution Statement:
- From John Brown by Victor Hugo, 1860.
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownVictor Hugodrawingspublications
- Exhibit Description:
- Advertisement for John Brown medallions sculpted by Edmonia Lewis. This ad was placed in the 25 March 1864 edition of The Liberator, an antislavery magazine based out of Boston. Lewis was able to raise enough money through her sales to fund her relocation to Italy.
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownEdmonia LewisadvertisementsThe LiberatorpublicationsBoston
- Exhibit Description:
- The busts of John Brown (by Edward A. Brackett) and George L. Stearns (by Samuel Morse) on display in the Tisch Library at Tufts University in 2017. Photograph taken August 16, 2017.
- Attribution:
- Long, Jules
- Attribution Statement:
- Image copyright Tufts University
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownGeorge L. StearnsTufts UniversitysculpturesEdward Augustus BrackettStearns Estatephotographs
- Exhibit Description:
- The busts of John Brown (by Edward A. Brackett) and George L. Stearns (by Samuel Morse) on display in the Tisch Library. Photograph taken August 16, 2017.
- Attribution:
- Long, Jules
- Attribution Statement:
- Image copyright Tufts University
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownGeorge L. StearnsTufts UniversitysculpturesEdward Augustus BrackettStearns Estatephotographs
- Exhibit Description:
- Photograph of Brackett's bust of John Brown showing damage to nose and eyebrow. This photograph was taken in May 2016 prior to the bust's complete restoration.
- Attribution:
- Brackett, Edward Augustus
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the Tufts University Permanent Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownsculpturesTufts UniversityTufts University Permanent CollectionEdward Augustus Brackett
- Exhibit Description:
- A handwritten note dated May 4, 1977, stating that the bust of John Brown may have been stolen in 1952. There are no records on this, but it is likely the bust was simply misplaced.
- Attribution Statement:
- Tufts University Digital Collections and Archives
- Exhibit Tags:
- Tufts UniversitysculpturesdocumentsTufts DCA
- Exhibit Description:
- Letter from John Brown written to George L. Stearns from Tabor, Iowa. The letter is dated August 10, 1857. Brown wrote, "I am in immediate want of from Five Hundred to One Thousand Dollars for secret service & no questions asked."
- Attribution:
- Brown, John
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownGeorge L. StearnsSmithsonian National Portrait GallerylettersdocumentsIowaBoston
- Exhibit Description:
- Card with the A. C. Russell woodcut of the bust of John Brown (by Edward A. Brackett) and a statement by Brown given to George L. Stearns in Medford, 1857: "Mr. Stearns, I consider the Golden Rule and the Declaration of Independence one and inseparable." On the reverse is a handwritten note that the bust was owned by Mrs. Mary Stearns regarding the bust's creation: Wood- cut of the Bust of John Brown in the possession of Mrs. Stearns - the only one in the world. It was taken by her order while awaiting execution in the Virginia Prison, October 1859."
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the West Virginia State Archives, John Brown/Boyd B. Stutler Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownGeorge L. StearnsWest Virginia State Archivesdrawings
- Exhibit Description:
- Oil on canvas painting of John Brown on the way to his execution on December 2, 1859. Brown, still injured from the failed raid at Harpers Ferry, was said to have kissed the head of a black baby on his way to the gallows.
- Attribution:
- Hovenden, Thomas
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stoeckel, 1897
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownMetropolitan Museum of ArtpaintingsWest Virginia
- Exhibit Description:
- Cabinet card featuring the John Brown bust owned by Mary E. Stearns. The photograph used for the card was printed by W. Shaw Warren of Cambridgeport, Cambridge, MA.
- Attribution:
- Warren, W. Shaw
- Attribution Statement:
- The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, Photography Collection, The New York Public Library
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownphotographsEdward Augustus BrackettMary E. StearnssculpturesCambridge
- Exhibit Description:
- Photograph of Brackett's bust of John Brown showing a 3D-printed plastic replacement nose. With the plastic nose, conservators were able to make a cast and then a new plaster nose. This photograph was taken in 2016 as the bust was being restored.
- Attribution:
- Brackett, Edward Augustus
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the Tufts University Permanent Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownTufts UniversityTufts University Permanent CollectionsculpturesEdward Augustus Brackettphotographs
- Exhibit Description:
- A tech from 3D Printsmith 3D-scanning both the damaged bust of John Brown and an undamaged plaster copy from the Boston Athenaeum. This was done in order to prepare an exact, 3D-printed copy of the nose and eyebrow for the damaged bust. This photograph was taken in May 2016.
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the Tufts University Permanent Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownTufts UniversityTufts University Permanent CollectionEdward Augustus Brackettsculpturesphotographs
- Exhibit Description:
- Photograph of George L. Stearns.
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the West Virginia State Archives, John Brown/Boyd B. Stutler Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- George L. StearnsWest Virginia State Archivesphotographs
- Exhibit Description:
- Cabinet card featuring the John Brown bust owned by Mary E. Stearns. This cabinet card was printed by Litchfield Studios in Arlington, MA. A handwritten note on the back of the card reads, "John Brown. From the Bust taken while awaiting Execution in the Virginia Prison, by order of Mrs. George L. Stearns, October 1859. This is the only marble Bust of the Martyr, at present writing - 1919 - in the world. It was only secured by the earnest entreaty of Mrs. Stearns, for whom, and his faithful friend Mr. Stearns, he cherished warm regard. E. A. Brackett, Sculptor."
- Attribution:
- Litchfield Studios
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of anonymous. Used by permission.
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownEdward Augustus BrackettGeorge L. StearnsphotographssculpturesMary E. StearnsArlington
- Exhibit Description:
- Letter from Tufts College president Leonard Carmichael to George R. Sands & Son, a conservator in Cambridge, 1950. It was this letter that allowed Tufts University Art Registrar Laura McDonald to put two and two together and realize the noseless bust was that of John Brown. The letter reads, "Gentlemen: Tufts College has a marble bust of John Brown, sculptured by Edward A. Brackett. Some time ago in an accident the nose was broken on this bust. Would it be possible for someone in your organization using contemporary photographs of John Brown to prepare a new nose that could be cemented to the bust? If this is feasible, would you be willing to indicate the cost of your work? Very truly yours, Leonard Carmichael"
- Attribution:
- Carmichael, Leonard
- Attribution Statement:
- Tufts University Digital Collections and Archives
- Exhibit Tags:
- Tufts UniversityTufts University Permanent CollectionTufts DCAlettersdocumentsEdward Augustus BrackettsculpturesCambridge
- Exhibit Description:
- Letter written by John Brown in his jail cell a few days before his execution. The original letter was given to Mary Ann Brown at the time of her visit to her husband December 1, 1859. After his execution, Mrs. Brown sent the letter to Mrs. Stearns in a Bible. The letter reads: "Charlestown, Jefferson Co., Va., 29th Nov. 1859. Mrs George L Stearns, Boston, Mass. My Dear friend, No letter I have received since my imprisonment here, has given me more satisfaction, or comfort: than yours of the 8th inst. I am quite cheerful: & was never more happy. Have only time [to] write you a word. May God forever reward you & all yours. My love to All who love their neighbours. I have asked to be spared from having any mock; or hypocritical prayers made over me, when I am publicly murdered: & that my only religious attendants be poor little, dirty, ragged, bare headed & barefooted, Slave Boys; & Girls; Led by some old greyheaded, Slave Mother. Farewell. Farewell. Your Friend, John Brown."
- Attribution:
- Brown, John
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the West Virginia State Archives, John Brown/Boyd B. Stutler Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownlettersdocumentsMary E. StearnsWest Virginia
- Exhibit Description:
- Letter from Lydia Maria Child in Wayland, MA, to John Brown while in prison, October 26, 1859. (Note: The front and back page of this letter have been placed side by side.) In the letter, she decries Brown's violence, but assures him "that no honest man ever shed his blood for freedom in vain, however much he may be mistaken in his efforts."
- Attribution:
- Child, Lydia Maria
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply
- Exhibit Tags:
- Kansas State Historical SocietyLydia Maria ChildJohn BrownlettersdocumentsWaylandWest Virginia
- Exhibit Description:
- Marble medallion of the abolitionist Wendell Phillips, sculpted by Edmonia Lewis. The John Brown medallions she made some seven years earlier may have appeared similar.
- Attribution:
- Lewis, Edmonia
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- Exhibit Tags:
- Wendell PhillipsEdmonia LewissculpturesSmithsonian National Portrait Gallery
- Exhibit Description:
- Photograph of Major George Luther Stearns in his military uniform. Stearns received his rank while serving as "Recruiting Commissioner for the U.S. Colored Troops" for the War Department in 1863.
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the West Virginia State Archives, John Brown/Boyd B. Stutler Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- George L. StearnsCivil WarphotographsWest Virginia State Archives
- Exhibit Description:
- A page from the 1937 inventory of artworks at Tufts College, showing that the busts of John Brown and George L. Stearns were on display in the Eaton Library.
- Attribution:
- Tufts College
- Attribution Statement:
- Tufts University Permanent Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- documentsTufts University Permanent CollectionsculpturesJohn BrownGeorge L. StearnsTufts University
- Exhibit Description:
- Article written by Lydia Maria Child titled "Brackett's Bust of John Brown," published in the New York Tribune on 11 February 1860, page 9, column 6. [Note: Image has been reformatted digitally; the original article sits in a single column.] Text: "The best things of this world never obtrude themselves on public notice. Walking through Washington St. one may see plenty of rich jewelry sparkling in the windows, graceful statuettes, and vases moulded in to every form of beauty. But the gem of gems, the thing most worth seeing in all the city, is in an artist's studio, up two flight of stairs, 24 Tremont Row. There those who visit Boston can see Brackett's wonderful bust of John Brown. That the whole press has not lauded it, with one universal chorus of praise, is merely because the name of John Brown is, at this time, an apple of discord.Those who knew the martyred hero well, pronounce it an admirable likeness. Such is the written testimony of Sennott, the lawyer who was with him during his trial. The artist labored under the disadvantage of not being allowed to enter the prison, when he went to Virginia for the purpose of making this bust. But a friend took accurate measurements for him, and he had enlarged photographs to guide him. It is also a fortunate circumstance that he chanced to meet John Brown in the streets of Boston, several months before his brave bearing at Harper's Ferry had made him world-famous. The expression of the face, and the carriage of the head attracted his artistic eye. He said to himself 'There's a head for a sculptor.' He looked after him earnestly, and went back, in order to pass him again. Upon inquiring who it was, he was told, 'That is old John Brown of Kansas.' The strong impression then made on his mind had much to do with his subsequent desire of going to Virginia for the purpose of modelling his head. The Virginians refused to grant opportunities for this work, partly because they suspected he was secretly employed to make a plan of the jail, with a view to rescue; and partly because they wanted John Brown to die, and there to be 'an end of him,' as some of them expressed it; a wish which does not seem to be in a very fair way of fulfilment.When the artist returned, his soul was so completely absorbed in his work, that John Brown was continually before him, in the dreams of the night, and the mental visions of the day. He read attentively all his writings and sayings, in order to become thoroughly imbued with his character. With such concentration of thought, perhaps it is not extraordinary that he should have produced an excellent likeness. But it required genius to make it so alive. It is this that makes it impress me more deeply than anything I have seen of modern sculpture. There are many statues with graceful outline, and exquisitely cut; but the soul, that made the marble seem to breathe in ancient sculpture, is almost always wanting. In Brackett's Bust of Brown, the character of the man looks through the features wonderfully. Any good judge, that examined it, without knowing whom it was intended to portray, would say, "That is a man of strong will, and lofty courage; kindly of heart, and religious to the very core of his being."A Boston gentleman, who has lived much in Europe, exclaimed, "It is singularly like Michael Angelo's Moses"! Other visitors have also observed this resemblance. But Mr. Brackett had never seen Michael Angelo's Moses, nor any representation of it. In fact, the similarity is merely in character. It is the sublime expression, the air of moral grandeur, which connects the two in the imagination of the spectator. This is not surprising, when we reflect that Michael Angelo had for his ideal the ancient hero, who led his brethren out of bondage, at the command of Jehovah, and Brackett sought to embody the modern hero, whose soul was filled with the same great idea.That the effect produced on my mind is not peculiar, I will prove by two witnesses, whose prejudices would have pre-disposed them to be unfavorable critics. The sculptor's conservative friends were, of course, not pleased with the object of his visit to Virginia. One of them, meeting him in State St. a short time ago, said, 'What are you doing now, Brackett?' 'I have just finished my bust of John Brown,' was the reply. 'Ah, I was sorry to hear of your going to Virginia. It will be a great injury to you,' said the Conservative. The sculptor replied, 'An artist must seek materials wherever he can find them; and rarely can such material be found, as the head of John Brown. You had better come and see it.' 'Not I. The old murderer!' was the abrupt answer. 'Then come and look at the bust of Choate; for I have completed that also,' said Mr. Brackett. A few days afterward, the hunker gentleman called to see the bust of Choate. As he stood before it, he glanced furtively, from time to time, at the head of John Brown, which stood nearby. It seemed to attract him powerfully; for he soon turned and gazed upon it. At last, he asked, 'Is that a good likeness?' 'Those who knew John Brown well agree in telling me so,' replied the sculptor. The hunker looked at it thoughtfully, and said, 'I would give a good deal to think it was a fancy-sketch.' In the presence of that calm, strong, reverential head, he could not repeat the words, 'an old murderer.'An artist who was extremely hostile to John Brown, after looking at this magnificent head, exclaimed, 'The old curse! He ought to be ashamed of himself, for making all the rest of us look so mean.'This remarkable bust is ordered in marble. There are also many orders for copies in plaster. Admirable photographs of it are for sale; but, of course, the best of photographs can never do entire justice to statues.Should this head be dug up, after lying buried for centuries, and there should be no clue to its history, it would at once take conspicuous rank in galleries of Art, and men would say to each other; 'It might be a head of Jupiter, were there not something so Christian in its character.'L. Maria Child."
- Attribution:
- Child, Lydia Maria
- Exhibit Tags:
- publicationsLydia Maria ChildNew York TribuneEdward Augustus BrackettJohn Brown
- Exhibit Description:
- Page on which are reproductions of photographs of John Brown's Northern Supporters, known as the Secret Six: George L. Stearns, Gerrit Smith, Frank B. Sanborn, T. W. Higginson, Theodore Parker and Samuel G. Howe. This six funded John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry.
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the West Virginia State Archives, John Brown/Boyd B. Stutler Collection.
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownGeorge L. StearnsFranklin SanbornSamuel Gridley HoweThomas Wentworth HigginsonGerrit SmithWest VirginiaWest Virginia State Archivesphotographs
- Exhibit Description:
- Lock of John Brown's hair. The tags read "Hair of John Brown of Ossawatomie, given to me by Mrs. Stearns, 1869 -L. Alexander," "John Brown's hair, cut off of his funeral by his daughter, given by her to Mrs. G.L. Stearns, by Mrs. Stearns to me, L.G.A."
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of the Medford Historical Society & Museum
- Exhibit Tags:
- John BrownobjectsMary E. StearnsdocumentsMedford Historical Society and Museum
- Exhibit Description:
- Pike said to be one of the 954 pikes purchased by John Brown (with funds provided by George L. Stearns) for the attack at Harper's Ferry. The label associated with the object reads "Col. Stearns Estate, John Brown's pike." Whether the pike is truly one of the 954 is unknown; its previous whereabouts were not recorded.
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of the Medford Historical Society & Museum
- Exhibit Tags:
- objectsJohn BrownGeorge L. StearnsMedford Historical Society and MuseumWest Virginia
- Exhibit Description:
- A list of objects to be delivered to Fine Arts Express by the Tufts University Gallery in September 1998. The first two in the list are the busts of John Brown and George L. Stearns, at that point identified only as "Bust of a bearded man" and "Bust of a man."
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of the Tufts University Permanent Art Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- Tufts UniversityJohn BrownGeorge L. StearnssculpturesTufts University Permanent Collectiondocuments
- Exhibit Description:
- Letter from Edward A. Brackett to George L. Stearns that reads, "My Dear Sir What do you think about taking a bust of old Brown. Can any thing be done about it. I shall be at my rooms till a quarter past 2 o'clock and should like to know what you think about it. Yours with regard, E.A. Brackett."
- Attribution:
- Brackett, Edward Augustus
- Attribution Statement:
- Image courtesy of the West Virginia State Archives, John Brown/Boyd B. Stutler Collection
- Exhibit Tags:
- Edward Augustus BrackettGeorge L. StearnsJohn BrownWest Virginia State Archiveslettersdocuments
- Exhibit Description:
- "John Brown and the Colored Child," a poem by Lydia Maria Child, published in Freedmen's Book (Boston: Fields, Osgood, & Co., 1869), page 241-242. It had originally been published in The Liberator as "The Hero's Heart" (1860). The text is as follows: "A winter sunshine, still and bright, / The Blue Hills bathed with golden light, / And earth was smiling to the sky, / When calmly he went forth to die. / Infernal passions festered there, / Where peaceful Nature looked so fair; / [5] And fiercely, in the morning sun, / Flashed glitt'ring bayonet and gun. / The old man met no friendly eye, / When last he looked on earth and sky; / [10] But one small child, with timid air, / Was gazing on his hoary hair. / As that dark brow to his upturned, / The tender heart within him yearned; / And, fondly stooping o'er her face, / [15] He kissed her for her injured race. / The little one she knew not why / That kind old man went forth to die; / Nor why, 'mid all that pomp and stir, / He stooped to give a kiss to her. / [20] But Jesus smiled that sight to see, / And said, "He did it unto me." / The golden harps then sweetly rung, / And this the song the angels sung: / 'Who loves the poor doth love the Lord; / [25] Earth cannot dim thy bright reward: / We hover o'er yon gallows high, / And wait to bear thee to the sky.'"
- Attribution:
- Child, Lydia Maria
- Exhibit Tags:
- Lydia Maria ChildpublicationsJohn Brown
- Creator:
- Unknown
- Exhibit Description:
- Photograph of Eaton Hall in the winter in 1950. Eaton Hall served as the library from its construction in 1908 until the construction of Wessell Library in 1964. The busts of John Brown and George L. Stearns were at one point on exhibit here at one point..
- Attribution Statement:
- Tufts University Digital Collections and Archives
- Exhibit Tags:
- Tufts UniversityEaton HallphotographsTufts DCAMedfordbuildings
- Exhibit Description:
- Grave monument for the George L. Stearns at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA. The text reads, "George Luther Stearns. The virtues of this rare man were celebrated at this death by the eloquence of Emerson, and in the poetry of Whittier. An unexampled honor, in his time he sheltered the exiled Hungarians together with John Brown. He saved Kansas to freedom. Almost alone in 1863 he organized the colored regiments, which turned the scale in favor of the Union cause. He expended a fortune in public and private benefactions." Photograph taken in August 2017.
- Exhibit Tags:
- George L. StearnsCambridgephotographssculpturesJohn Greenleaf WhittierRalph Waldo Emerson
- Exhibit Description:
- Excerpts from the handwritten will of Mary E. Stearns, who died in December 1901. The excepts itemize a number of specific objects in her house that she would like to be donated to Tufts College after her sons are finished with them. The text reads, "Also to hold for the use and enjoyment of the said Henry during his life the following described articles of personal property situated in the house where I now reside namely: my tall "grandfather's clock" on the front stairway, the "highboy," the cabinet, the tripod table, the old English mirror, all the old-fashioned chairs which belonged to my deceased husband, the bust of John Brown, the bust of George L. Stearns, the bust of Beethoven, the bust of Emerson, the bust of Clytie, the Venus of Milo, and the several paintings painted by my old friend Christopher P. Cranch, excepting only the one hereinbefore given to Lenora Cranch Scott, said articles all to be kept, preserved and used by him during his life in the house where I now live and not elsewhere."
- Attribution:
- Stearns, Mary E.
- Exhibit Tags:
- Mary E. StearnsFrank P. StearnsTufts UniversityGeorge L. StearnsMiddlesex Probate and Family CourtdocumentsStearns EstateHenry L. Stearns
- Exhibit Description:
- Photograph of the "Big Rock" at John Brown's grave at his farm in North Elba, New York.
- Attribution:
- Stoddard, S.R.
- Attribution Statement:
- Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
- Exhibit Tags:
- Library of CongressJohn BrownNew Yorkphotographs