Salt-glazed border tiles made from kiln-fired red clay, used to line walkways and gardens. Made by slave labor on a plantation near Hickory Hill, South Carolina. Four tiles exist in the collection, two of each shown here.
Copper slave badge, square in shape. Face is stamped "Charleston 1840 Servant 1869." 1840 is the year produced and 1869 signifies that it was the 1,869th "servant" badge sold that year.
Coral bead discovered during 2018 investigations of an enslaved quarter in the Nathaniel Russell House kitchen house. Coral is most often associated with children's necklaces and teething rattles in the 18th and 19th century as it was thought to have protective/medicinal properties.
Manilla, a type of metal currency formerly exchanged for slaves, especially in West Africa. Originally imported from Europe then later re-cast and used as a local currency.
Manilla, a type of metal currency formerly exchanged for slaves, especially in West Africa. Originally imported from Europe then later re-cast and used as a local currency.
Two manillas, metal currency formerly exchanged for slaves, especially in West Africa. Originally imported from Europe then later re-cast and used as a local currency. These were made in Birmingham, England.
Slave auctioneer's token, 1846. These tokens were distributed as one-cent pieces and served as advertisements for the businesses and services depicted on the coins. Face view of token reads "W.W. Wilbur Auction & Commission Merchant; Charleston, So. Ca.; Going at Only A Penny" encircling the image of an auctioneer. Obverse view of token reads "Merchants & Manufactors Agents; Collection Broker Notary Public" encircling the image of a tree.
Handwritten invitation on folded, embossed paper dated August 16, 1849. Discovered under floorboards in front of the fireplace in the east enslaved quarter during 2020 investigations of the Nathaniel Russell House kitchen house. The letter transcription reads, "Miss Mary Lopez respectfully/soliceits the honor of Mr. & Mrs./Allescader Compaony on/Wednesday Evening next/inst. at her residence/Prices Alley at 1/2 past 7/O'Clock August 16th, '49
A fragmented crystal discovered during 2019 investigations of the Russell House Kitchen House. The crystal was wedged tightly between the end of an original floorboard and the first period masonry wall in the east enslaved quarter of the Russell House Kitchen House. One end identifies it as a chandelier or girandole crystal. The other end, however, shows evidence of a percussive strike, evidence it was intentionally struck one or more times to shape it into a crude point.
A small pillow, hand sewn with faded mattress ticking and stuffed with lambswool, uncovered during 2020 investigations of the Nathaniel Russell Kitchen House. Pillow was discovered under the floorboards in the front of the fireplace in the west enslaved quarter. Pillow measures 4"x5".
A small wooden brush with fine hairs uncovered during 2020 investigations of Nathaniel Russell House Kitchen House. Brush discovered under the floorboards in the front of the fireplace in the east enslaved quarter. Dates to period of enslavement.
Rubber Union Navy four-holed buttons from Navy peacoat wore by crewmember James Wicks with raised letters "U.S.N.", three stars, and horizontal foul anchor on forward face and raised text on reverse side reading "Novelty Rubber, Goodyear's Patent, 1851, New York." Images show forward face of buttons following removal from submarine interior sediment, reverse face of buttons following removal from submarine interior sediment, and close-up of two buttons, one showing forward face and one showing reverse side, following cleaning and conservation.
Five dollar bill issued by the Farmers & Exchange Bank of Charleston and dated September 28, 1853. Bill depicts an African American tending to a wagon pulled by oxen. Engraved by Toppan, Carpenter, Kasilear & Company, Philadelphia and New York.
Large bolt found on top of the head of a hammer and an adjustable wrench in the bottom of the submarine interior. Images show an x-ray photograph of the bolt prior to deconcretion, the bolt with concretion, and the bolt following deconcretion and conservation treatment with subcritical fluid technology.
Wooden part of bench for supporting and holding forward and central sections of the submarine interior bench, with notch cut out to fit around the submarine interior frame. Images show the concreted bench support following excavation and removal from the submarine; reverse-side view of concreted bench support; x-ray photograph of bench support; bench support following deconcretion, conservation treatment with polyethylene glycol, and cleaning; the reverse-side view of the same post-deconcretion condition; bench support following freeze-drying; and the reverse-side view of the support post-freeze-drying. Note the holes in all images where nails or screws were once held to attach the support to the forward and central bench.
Rudder composed of wrought iron, discovered on the exterior of the submarine beneath the stern end with a large portion portside. Images show excavated rudder with concretion of coral growth and sea urchin spicules, rudder following partial deconcretion, deconcreted rudder treated in caustic solution, and fully deconcreted and cleaned rudder.
Nut and bolt once connected to iron bar in between interior aft pump and horizontal rod support. Images show initial connection to iron bar in the submarine interior, x-ray photograph of the bolt and nut and the adjacent bolt, corrosion of the bolt and nut after removal from concretion, and bolt and nut after conservation treatment with subcritical fluid technology.
Brass clothing buckle with two prongs, discovered with fabric still attached. Front face of buckle has stamped marks "G", "&", heraldic symbol, "C", and numbers, with prong bar face reading "SOLIDE". Reverse face of buckle has stamped mark "1860" with "PARIS" on reverse side of prong bar. Images show buckle following removal from submarine interior and initial cleaning, front face of buckle following rinsing, cleaning, and thorough drying, and reverse face of buckle following rinsing, cleaning, and thorough drying.
Metal suspender button loop and portion of chain made of silver. Images show concreted loop following removal from submarine interior and initial cleaning, loop following partial deconcretion by mechanical cleaning, and mostly deconcreted loop following mechanical cleaning with chain portion still partially concreted.
Clay smoking pipe bowl and stem, discovered in 2 pieces. Images show pipe in its original location within the submarine interior, stem and bowl pieces of the pipe following initial cleaning, and reconstructed pipe following conservation treatment.
Brass buckle with two prongs, possibly from a vest. Images show buckle following removal from the submarine interior with surrounding sediment and textile, and buckle following rinsing, cleaning, and thorough drying.
Brass thimble, 1.5 cm in diameter. Images show close-up of thimble following removal from the submarine and the thimble following mechanical cleaning and thorough drying.
Iron tool handle cast in a T-shape, with a square end. Images show the tool following removal from the submarine but prior to deconcretion, x-ray photograph of the tool, and the tool following deconcretion and conservation treatment with subcritical fluid technology.
Metal file composed of wrought iron, initially found resting on top of a ballast block on the interior floor of the submarine. Images show the initial site of the iron file during excavation and the file after deconcretion and conservation treatment with subcritical fluid technology.
Wooden shelf from forward bulkhead in the submarine interior, found laying horizontal to the original upright orientation of the submarine. Possibly made of pine, approximately 1 inch thick, with cut-outs to fit in the bulkhead of the submarine. Images show wooden shelf within the submarine interior during excavation and wooden shelf after removal, conservation treatment with polyethylene glycol, and freeze drying. Note the rust stains on both ends where bolts had been used to secure the shelf.
Wooden plank used as a bench for crew operating the crankshaft, with notches carved out to fit around the frame ring supports. Images show the third section of the bench alongside the second bench section within the submarine prior to removal and the 3 different sections of the bench after cleaning, conservation treatment with polyethylene glycol, and freeze drying. Note also the carving in the front of one of the sections, which was done by a crew member to better operate the aft ballast pump.
Cast iron cover from the starboard deadlight with rubber seal on the inside, removed from hinge on interior of the hull plate. Images show x-ray photograph of deadlight cover, deconcreted cover with rubber seal in place, and cover with rubber seal removed after conservation treatment with subcritical fluid technology.
Silver suspenders/braces clasp belonging to Lieutenant George E. Dixon, discovered with the straps’ rubber elastic fragments attached. Images show the clasp following removal from the submarine interior with rubber fragments still attached, close-up of reverse side of clasp with concretion partially removed by mechanical cleaning, close-up of engraved initials reading "G.E.D." on front face of clasp following mechanical cleaning, and full view of front face of the clasp following mechanical cleaning.
Wooden object, possibly a bucket or small cask, made up of staves with a solid wooden end forming the bottom. Images show some staves and wooden end of bucket in its initial location within the submarine interior sediment, staves and wooden end of bucket laid out following initial cleaning, with some staves still concreted together, and staves of bucket reconstructed with velcro bindings following conservation treatment with polyethylene glycol and freeze drying treatment.
Hammer made of wood and wrought iron, found laying against adjustable pipe wrench in the bottom of the submarine interior. Images show the initial location of the hammer on the submarine interior hull, the hammer concretion together with the pipe wrench following removal from the submarine, x-ray photograph of the hammer following separation from wrench concretion, and the hammer following partial deconcretion.
Open ended wrought iron pipe wrench. Images show heavily concreted wrench in its initial location on top of ballast block, and wrench after cleaning, deconcretion and conservation treatment with subcritical fluid technology. Second image shows the extremely fragile condition of the wrench following conservation.
Pencil composed of wood and coal, split into two halves. Images show the pencil pieces following its removal from the submarine interior sediment and pencil pieces following cleaning and freeze drying treatment.
Leather wallet belonging to one of the crew, made of two sides that fold in, once stitched together, and an additional pocket inside, with a reinforced band of leather for closing. Images show the wallet during the excavation of the submarine interior and the wallet following cleaning, conservation treatment, and freeze drying.
Large plank of wood, possibly pine, with an associated detached smaller plank, found in the submarine bow interior. Possibly cut from the same wood as the crew bench, the two pieces were nailed together at some point to construct and hold in place against an iron pipe the main seat for Lieutenant George E. Dixon. Images show wood bench in its initial location within the submarine interior, wood bench with detached support prior to deconcretion and cleaning, and deconcreted and reconstructed wood pieces following conservation treatment with polyethylene glycol.
Union navy uniform buttons, composed probably of brass or copper alloy, with raised upright foul anchor design on horizontal line background and rope border on forward face and backmark inscription that reads "Superfine Standard," with copper alloy attachment clip on back. Images show assortment of Union navy buttons following removal from the submarine interior sediment and initial cleaning, two buttons showing forward face and one showing reverse side and clip following mechanical cleaning, four buttons all showing forward face following mechanical cleaning, one button showing forward face and one button showing reverse side with keyring on eyelet following mechanical cleaning, two buttons showing forward face and one button showing reverse side with keyring on eyelet following mechanical cleaning, one button showing forward face and one button showing reverse side with clip following mechanical cleaning, and close-up of two buttons following mechanical cleaning, one showing forward face in background and one showing lateral view of reverse side with clip in foreground.
Left shoe, Brogan style, cut out of two main leather pieces with at least two metal nails in the heel and four eyelets for laces, two of them containing metal rings. Images show boot following removal from the submarine interior, x-ray photograph of the boot containing sediment and bone fragments, and boot following cleaning and freeze drying treatment.
Cast iron hatch cover from aft conning tower with a small viewport, bleeding valve and part of the locking mechanism. Images show the concreted hatch cover as excavated and still attached to conning tower, hatch cover during removal via crane, conning tower following hatch cover removal, and partially deconcreted hatch cover with rubber seal still attached.
Cylindrical canteen stopper made of cork. Images show two conditions of the cork stopper, the first showing the cork stopper following removal from submarine interior and initial cleaning, and the second showing the cork following super critical treatment.
Plain non-military buttons made of bone with depressed center and primarily four holes, though some contain five holes. Images show a small sample of twelve buttons of varying conditions before initial cleaning and desalination, seven buttons of varying conditions following cleaning and desalination, and thirty-five buttons of varying conditions following initial cleaning and desalination.
Cameo-type, non-military button with profile of bearded, male head in brass on white stone wafer with scalloped rim. Images show the button prior to deconcretion and cleaning, and the cleaned button following conservation treatment and sediment removal.
Binoculars composed of copper alloy barrels (painted black), a horn focus knob, iron pins and 6 elliptical lenses as opposed to round. Images show the binoculars following removal from the submarine interior and initial cleaning, and binoculars after extensive soaking, cleaning, and conservation treatment.
Folding or straight razor knife, covers made of horn and all other components made of iron, with mineralized blade. Images show knife within heavy concretion and knife following deconcretion and conservation treatment.
