Time: 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum presents more than twenty examples of presidential campaign images from the late nineteenth century with the exhibit “Thomas Nast: President Maker and Campaign Breaker.” The exhibit illustrates six presidential campaigns from 1864 through 1884. This popular exhibit has now been extended and will be available to view during touring hours Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday afternoons from 1pm – 4pm through July 21st 2013.
Thomas Nast (1840-1902) was America’s leading political cartoonist in the second half of the nineteenth century. From the studio in his Morristown, NJ home, Nast popularized the symbols of the Democratic (donkey) and Republican (elephant) parties that continue more than a century later. Nast, a staunch Republican, illustrated his views of the presidential campaigns for Harper’s Weekly. He supported the candidate he felt would best serve the country. The power of Nast’s pen was evident — each candidate that he supported went on to become the President of the United States. Equally important were the scathing cartoons Nast drew of the candidates he did not support.
During the presidential campaigns and elections of 1868 and 1872, Nast stayed true to the Republican Party and supported Ulysses S. Grant. This helped Grant, a personal friend of Nast, to win both elections. The exhibit features Nast’s images of Grant as well as campaign banners for Grant and one of his rivals, Horace Greeley. Included in the exhibit is a personal letter in Grant’s hand to Thomas Nast accepting an invitation to the artist’s Morristown mansion.
Thomas Nast continued to support the Republican Party in the election of 1876 and helped to elect Rutherford B. Hayes. This election against Samuel Tilden was a fierce battle with scandals about vote tampering surrounding each man. “Another Such Victory, and I am Done” was published in the March 24, 1877 edition of Harper’s Weekly which depicts a battered elephant to show how tough the election was for Hayes, Nast, and the entire Republican Party. It was not until the election of 1884 that Nast temporarily broke with the Republican Party and supported the Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland. Nast felt Cleveland would best serve the country, so he helped Cleveland to win the office. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum holds America’s largest collection of original artwork by Thomas Nast. Museum founder W. Parsons Todd began the collection with purchases directly from the artist’s family. With recent acquisitions, the Nast collection at the Museum numbers more than 3,500 pieces.
Visitors can also enjoy an exhibit of bronze sculptures is currently on display in the upstairs gallery of Macculloch Hall Historical Museum. “American Heroes in Bronze: The Artwork of James E.Kelly” is co-curated by William B. Styple and the Museum’s Curator of Collections, Ryan Hyman. This unique exhibit explores the work of Irish-American sculptor James E. Kelly (1855-1933). In the decades following the American Civil War, more than forty Union Generals visited the New York City studio of Kelly, who was highly respected for his artwork’s historical accuracy. While the war heroes sat, the artist conducted in-depth interviews regarding their wartime service, and heard their very personal stories of Fort Sumter, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Appomattox. The work resulting from these personal interviews presents a unique perspective on the famous figures and events from the Civil War. Also included in this exhibition are Kelly’s depictions of notable events from the Revolutionary War and well known civilians such as Thomas Edison and Clara Barton. Bas reliefs, busts, engravings and bronze sculptures depict these heroes. The collection of Kelly’s work is on loan from private collectors and can be viewed during touring hours until October 31st.
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. The Museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The last tour leaves at 3pm. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. The gardens are open (free of charge) during Museum hours. Please check our website for any holiday closings. Call (973) 538-2404 ext. 10, visit our website www.maccullochhall.org or find us on Facebook. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is a nonprofit educational affiliate of the W. Parsons Todd Foundation.
Image attached: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum_ Another Such Victory, and I am DoneThomas Nast Engraving Harper’s Weekly, March 24, 1877 From the collection of MHH. Courtesy of Stan Freeny.
