Token, Commemorative

Title:

A PIECE OF THE ELM TREE FORMERLY/ STANDING IN/ CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS/ UNDER WHICH/ GEORGE WASHINGTON/ TOOK COMMAND OF THE/ AMERICAN ARMY/ JULY 3, 1775/ PRESENTED/ BY/ THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE/ 1924.

Object Name:

Token, Commemorative

Creator:

THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Date:

1920-1925

Material:

Elm wood, brass

Dimensions:

H-4.75 L-21 Dia-7 inches

Description:

A roughly rectangular block of elm wood about 5 1/2 inches wide, with a small black and gold plaque nailed onto it. The plaque reads, "A PIECE OF THE ELM TREE FORMERLY/ STANDING IN/ CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS/ UNDER WHICH/ GEORGE WASHINGTON/ TOOK COMMAND OF THE/ AMERICAN ARMY/ JULY 3, 1775/ PRESENTED/ BY/ THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE/ 1924." One corner of the bottom is missing - traces of creosote from repairs to the tree show at corner.

Provenance:

Pieces of this tree under which Washington took command were preserved as souvenirs by both institutions and individuals.

Subjects:

Elms, Wood blocks, Plague, Washington Elm, Continental Army, American Revolution

People:

Washington, George

Place of Origin:

Massachusetts

Collection Name:

Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire

Item Number:

1990.217

Accession Number:

1990.217

Type of Material:

Objects

Copyright Statement:

For information regarding copyright, permissions, and reproductions contact the American Independence Museum

Credit Line:

American Independence Museum

Participating Organization:

American Independence Museum