BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Natl Museum of American History -- Exhibit: Giving in America

DC -- Natl Museum of American History -- Exhibit: Giving in America:

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. SIAHGI_161202_007.JPG: Giving in America Giving has taken many forms throughout American history and has become firmly woven into the American experience. Every year millions of Americans contribute money, time, talent, and resources to causes across the country and throughout the world. Philanthropy is not unique to the United States, but Americans' ideals of participation, equality, resourcefulness, and shared responsibility have shaped a distinctive form of giving in America.
2. SIAHGI_161202_009.JPG: Bust of Andrew Carnegie John Massey Rhind, 1908 In the late 1800s philanthropy became increasingly associated with the very wealthy, as a generation of new millionaires founded public institutions. Industrialist Andrew Carnegie influenced the future of philanthropy by giving away most of his wealth and arguing that the rich were the best judges of how their money could benefit the common good.
3. SIAHGI_161202_014.JPG: Jenny Lind Concert Program, 1850 During her US tour, from 1850 to 1852, Swedish opera star Jenny Lind donated her concert proceeds to various local charities. Master showman P.T. Barnum promoted her philanthropy, demonstrating for American audiences that her character was as admirable as her voice.
4. SIAHGI_161202_021.JPG: Fire Engine Panel Painting "Benjamin Franklin with a Loaf of Bread", 1830 Benjamin Franklin came to believe that society's needs could be addressed through the mutual action and generosity of like-minded individuals. He pioneered models of community fundraising and public-private partnerships in Philadelphia, leading to the establishment of libraries, hospitals, and fire companies.
5. SIAHGI_161202_024.JPG: Library Company of Philadelphia Subscription Ticket, 1815
6. SIAHGI_161202_027.JPG: Jenny Lind Bottole, mid-1800s
7. SIAHGI_161202_030.JPG: Who Gives? Americans have always participated in giving, although the notion of who is responsible for philanthropy has changed over time. Colonial Americans believed charity was an obligation owed by the wealthy to those in need. But by the Revolutionary War, all kinds of Americans began to participate in giving and volunteerism. Today most Americans practice some form of giving.
8. SIAHGI_161202_032.JPG: Crispus Attucks Circle Fundraising Poster, 1918 Many African Americans worried that black soldiers returning from World War I would receive substandard medical care. The Philadelphia-based Crispus Attucks Circle, named for a black man killed during the 1770 Boston Massacre, attempted to raise funds to guarantee better care. The effort failed in part because of resistance from the federal government.
9. SIAHGI_161202_037.JPG: Annual Report, American Female Guardian Society and Home for the Friendless 1857 For much of the 1800s charity was described as a moral obligation, and women were seen as guardians of morals and virtue. Middle- and upper-class women turned these beliefs into opportunities to establish, promote, and run charities. Philanthropy provided these women, who were not allowed to vote, with alternative means of influencing public life.
10. SIAHGI_161202_039.JPG: United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Halloween Collection Box Late 1900s
11. SIAHGI_161202_043.JPG: United Nations Flag 1953 After World War II, philanthropy abroad became the human face of global American influence. Cold War politics and televised news heightened U.S. concerns about world affairs and encouraged more Americans to donate to international relief. American organizations and foundations frequently funded projects led by the United Nations, founded in 1945.
12. SIAHGI_161202_048.JPG: Why Do We Give? Americans have given for a wide variety of reasons that have changed over time. Their motivations have ranged from feeling religious or moral obligation to concerns about societal change, from giving back to achieving social status and influence. Americans' support of philanthropy abroad grew as the U.S. role in the world expanded in the 1900s.
13. SIAHGI_161202_050.JPG: Purim Charity Collection Plaque Late 19th–Early 20th Century Giving is a fundamental part of many religions. These plaques were used during Purim, a Jewish holiday. Purim traditions include donating funds to charity, often through Jewish organizations.
14. SIAHGI_161202_053.JPG: Group Portrait of Members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Their Beneficiaries 1859 Lithograph by the Edward Sachse and Company Americans of all classes sought ways to respond to the growing complexity and diversity of U.S. cities in the 1800s. Some formed voluntary associations, such as fraternal orders, to help create communal bonds, offer mutual aid to members, and support charitable work in the larger community.
15. SIAHGI_161202_056.JPG: Fireman's Presentation Trumpet 1850s The Good Will Fire Company worked across racial boundaries to aid a black community before the Civil War. The grateful "Colored women of Philadelphia" presented this trumpet in appreciation of the volunteer company's "manly, heroic, and philanthropic efforts" in putting out fires set by rioting mobs.
16. SIAHGI_161202_060.JPG: The Mansion of Happiness, an Instructive, Moral & Entertaining Amusement Board Game, B. W. Thayer & Co. 1843 Religion has always played a large role in American giving. Religious revival movements in the early 1800s contributed to Americans' growing understanding of charity as the responsibility of all and a path to religious salvation.
17. SIAHGI_161202_063.JPG: What Do We Give? From helping a neighbor to donating entire fortunes for a cause, what Americans give is as diverse as America itself. While gifts of money often receive the most attention, donations of talent, labor, and creativity are equally significant.
18. SIAHGI_161202_065.JPG: Manumission Document 1793 Frederick, Maryland Although African Americans who were enslaved could sometimes purchase their liberty, a slave owner's ability to gift freedom was a constant reminder of his or her power. This document granted freedom to a young girl referred to here as Barby, from George Burckhardt.
19. SIAHGI_161202_070.JPG: Tools and Belt 2005-2006 Volunteerism plays an important role in philanthropy in America. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed lives and homes in the Gulf Coast in 2005, many nonprofit groups organized volunteers to help the recovery effort. Jillian Gross led a team from Habitat for Humanity in rebuilding homes in Louisiana.
20. SIAHGI_161202_074.JPG: Pleasant Hill School Lunch Tray Around 1964 In 1912, Booker T. Washington initiated a partnership with philanthropist Julius Rosenwald to provide better education for black children. The Rosenwald Rural School Initiative worked with communities to award matching grants that resulted in the construction of over 5,000 schools in fifteen southern states by 1933.
21. SIAHGI_161202_079.JPG: Blood Donation Process Poster, American Red Cross Late 1900s to early 2000s
22. SIAHGI_161202_082.JPG: Blood Collection Kit, Mead Johnson Around 1950 Civilian blood drives, first organized during World War II, have become a staple of civic culture. Registration for organ donation became an option in the 1960s. Living organ donations, first successful in the 1980s, are one of the utmost forms of giving of oneself.
23. SIAHGI_161202_085.JPG: Christmas Seals Poster 1939 The development of mass fundraising drives in the early 1900s allowed many Americans to extend their charitable reach. American social worker Emily Bissell began selling Christmas seals in 1907 to raise money for tuberculosis care. Funds collected by the stamps supported the organization that eventually became the American Lung Association.
24. SIAHGI_161202_088.JPG: Direct Mail Charity Requests 2016 American charities began to experiment with direct mail fundraising after World War II, sending donation appeals to individual homes. Direct mail became increasingly successful with the introduction of zip codes in 1963 and the widespread use of computers in the 1970s. Today nonprofits mail billions of solicitations a year.
25. SIAHGI_161202_091.JPG: Bonnet Worn by Salvation Army Worker Today the Salvation Army is best known for collecting funds during the holidays. But the evangelical group began in the 1880s founding rescue missions across the nation. Although care for the poor became increasingly secular in the late 1800s with the rise of social welfare professionals, religious groups continued to play a crucial role.
26. SIAHGI_161202_096.JPG: Salvation Army Brochure 1880s
27. SIAHGI_161202_101.JPG: Organ Donor Card and Pin 2014 From the U.S. Department Health and Human Services
28. SIAHGI_161202_108.JPG: How Do We Give? Americans have adapted or created new ways to give over time. The growth of large foundations and mass giving can put more distance between donors and recipients. But givers can also experience the immediate impact of dropping coins in a boot or texting to contribute to disaster relief.
29. SIAHGI_161202_110.JPG: Promotional Kit, The United Way 1955 In the late 1800s, church leaders and social reformers began organizing to raise funds and coordinate charitable services. Through the 1900s, community chests and other groups grew to become professional organizations. Many of these groups eventually merged into one organization, which officially adopted the name The United Way in 1970.
30. SIAHGI_161202_114.JPG: Jerry Lewis Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association 1979, Las Vegas, Nevada
31. SIAHGI_161202_117.JPG: LG ENV mobile phone used in "Text to Haiti" campaign 2010 Television, mobile phones, and the Internet are just a few of the technologies that have fostered creative ideas for raising funds and simplified giving. It is now easier than ever to give to a cause, and the increased use and impact of technology presents Americans with more causes from which to choose.
32. SIAHGI_161202_121.JPG: Income Tax Form 1040 for 1917 Including "Contributions to Charitable Organizations" 1917 With the 1917 Revenue Act, Congress introduced income tax deductions for charitable donations in order to encourage private philanthropy. The tax code has shaped how we give by promoting tax incentives over government subsidies to charities, while also determining which charities are eligible.
33. SIAHGI_161202_125.JPG: Psychological Test, Published by the Russell Sage Foundation 1925 In the early 1900s, wealthy philanthropists applied their resources and organizational expertise to establishing foundations, often to support issues that would otherwise be underfunded. The Russell Sage Foundation was founded in 1907 and supports research in the social sciences.
34. SIAHGI_161202_130.JPG: Giving USA: Facts about Philanthropy 1960 The work of the American Association of Fundraising Counsel, formed in 1935, helped to professionalize fundraising and further linked philanthropy with large-scale fundraising and giving. It began publishing fundraising statistics and trends in 1955 with its annual Giving USA report, highlighting the philanthropic profession's positive impact.
35. SIAHGI_161202_133.JPG: T-Shirt, Race for the Cure 1998 Marathons, races, walks, and rides dot the annual calendars of nearly every major American city and allow participants to raise money for a cause. Many participants describe a desire to do more than just write a check. In engaging, they also encourage friends and family to fund their participation.
36. SIAHGI_161202_136.JPG: Fireman's Boot, Station 40 in Fairfax County, Virginia 2015
37. SIAHGI_161202_140.JPG: Fill the Boot Fundraising Drive 1950s Throughout the 1900s, national fundraising efforts became annual traditions in communities throughout the United States. At street corners across the nation, the International Association of Fire Fighters' Fill the Boot campaign has raised funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1954.
38. SIAHGI_161202_144.JPG: Silk Embroidery by Rachel Breck Hooker 1810 Here Charity is idealized as a woman handing bread to a small child outside her home. The allegorical image reflects a personal relationship between donor and recipient. Beyond such direct giving, communities in the early 1800s began to establish institutions to deal with the needs of an increasingly mobile population.
39. SIAHGI_161202_154.JPG: Giving and the Environment The desire to protect and sustain the environment has long inspired American giving. Environmental activists and organizations, often in partnership with government agencies, have helped to expand Americans' understanding of -- and the debate about -- our living planet.
40. SIAHGI_161202_156.JPG: Photograph of Nevada Falls, Yosemite National Park Taken Around 1946 Photographer Ansel Adams, with support from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, captured magnificent images of the West. His work fostered appreciation for America's natural wonders.
41. SIAHGI_161202_159.JPG: Carriage Road Sign, Acadia National Park Around 1917 Acadia National Park -- established in 1919 -- was America's first national park east of the Mississippi River, and the first created solely from private land donations. In the early 1900s George B. Dorr, John D. Rockefeller Jr., and others worked to preserve the islands off Maine's coast. Members of Friends of Acadia continue to support the park.
42. SIAHGI_161202_163.JPG: Giving Pledge Letters The Giving Pledge initiative -- launched in 2010 by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates -- seeks to foster a national conversation about the importance of philanthropy in the United States and around the world. In these letters, the world's wealthiest individuals pledge to dedicate more than half of their wealth to philanthropy.
43. SIAHGI_161202_170.JPG: Fishing Pole Around 1930 In the early 1900s hunters and anglers were some of the earliest contributors to new nonprofit conservation organizations in the United States. Today these enthusiasts contribute more than $1.1 billion in membership dues and contributions to conservation or wildlife-related organizations each year. Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structure (ARMS) 2012-2013 Monitoring the health of the world's oceans requires standardized and easily replicated research around the globe. The Smithsonian's Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network provides both through devices like Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS), which produce data on species at a single reef site. ARMS have been purchased and deployed through the philanthropic support of Suzanne and Michael Tennenbaum.
44. SIAHGI_161202_180.JPG: Freshwater Work Gloves 2016 In the 1980s countless volunteer organizations dedicated to the environmental stewardship of long-neglected communities formed. These groups emerged because of a growing awareness of the rights of all to a clean environment. Since 1989 the Anacostia Watershed Society has worked to protect and restore the Capital region's Anacostia River. Volunteers used these gloves to pick up trash, and students used the test kit to test river water. Freshwater Test Kit 2016
45. SIAHGI_161202_184.JPG: Buttons for Conservation Causes By the 1960s and '70s public awareness about the environment was growing, as were threats like pollution, species extinction, and population growth. Americans founded organizations dedicated to a wide variety of environmental causes.
46. SIAHGI_161202_187.JPG: Hat with Ostrich and Egret Feathers 1888–1890
47. SIAHGI_161202_190.JPG: Hat with Ostrich Feathers 1910–1912 The popularity of feathered hats led to the slaughter of millions of birds and endangered many species. In the late 1800s women activists launched a successful boycott and contributed to the founding of the National Audubon Society.
48. SIAHGI_161202_192.JPG: March of Dimes Collection Can Mid-to-late 1900s In the early 1900s, nationwide charitable organizations expanded their influence and increasingly relied on support from everyday donors and volunteers. The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, renamed the March of Dimes, was founded in 1938 to combat polio and later shifted its mission to preventing birth defects.
49. SIAHGI_161202_196.JPG: Ice Bucket Challenge Bucket 2014 Charitable giving went viral in the summer of 2014 with the Ice Bucket Challenge, a social media effort to promote ALS awareness. More than 17 million videos of participants dumping ice-cold water on their heads have been uploaded to social media websites. Jeanette Senerchia, whose husband has the degenerative nerve disease, used this bucket in launching the challenge.
50. SIAHGI_161202_200.JPG: Alms Box 1800-1840 Alms boxes have been used for centuries to collect money for religious institutions and charities. Even those with little to spare might contribute coins anonymously to an alms box. By the 1800s they were commonly used in the United States, an example of the kind of small-scale giving typical of the time.
51. SIAHGI_161202_205.JPG: Boots Worn by Earl Shaffer on Appalachian Trail Hike 1998 In 1948 Earl Shaffer became the first person to walk the entire Appalachian Trail in one continuous hike. The trail -- completed in 1937 thanks to the cooperation of government agencies, private partners, and volunteers -- continues to be sustained by public-private partnerships. Shaffer wore these boots when he again walked the entire trail, fifty years later.
52. SIAHGI_161202_210.JPG: Margaret Olivia Sage Although married to a notorious pennypitcher, in widowhood Olivia Sage went on to donate over forty-five million dollars between 1906 and 1918 to benefit women's education and other social causes. The Russell Sage Foundation is still in existence today.
53. SIAHGI_161202_212.JPG: John D. Rockefeller, Jr. A passionate conservationist, Rockefeller helped to create national parks, including Acadia, Grand Teton, and Great Smoky Mountains. His interest also extended to historical preservation, as he donated almost sixty million dollars to Colonial Williamsburg between the 1920s and the 1950s.
54. SIAHGI_161202_216.JPG: Carolina Malpica de Munguia Part of a wealthy Mexican family, Carolina Malpica de Mungula formed a voluntary association for women in the 1930s called Circulo Cultural Isabel la Catolica. The organization sought to help lower-middle-class and working-class Mexican-born women in San Antonio, Texas.
55. SIAHGI_161202_218.JPG: Dan West Indiana farmer Dan West worked through his Church of the Brethren congregation to donate young heifers to families in need. His phrase "not a cup of milk, but a cow" became the credo for Heifer International.
56. SIAHGI_161202_220.JPG: Cleve Jones Cleve Jones quilted a panel as a memorial to his best friend, who had died of AIDS in 1986. Friends then made panels to join Jones's. Today more than forty-eight thousand panels and ninety-four thousand names make up the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
57. SIAHGI_161202_222.JPG: Ronald Read Ronald Read worked as a janitor and gas station attendant, while quietly amassing an eight-million-dollar estate. No one knew of his fortune until it was bequeathed in 2014 to his local library and hospital in Brattleboro, Vermont.
58. SIAHGI_161202_225.JPG: Angelina Jolie Celebrity culture has become intimately connected to philanthropy over the past several decades, with Angelina Jolie serving as one of the most noted examples. Her devotion to humanitarian causes has earned her international attention and praise. She is pictured here on the Syria/Jordan border.
59. SIAHGI_161202_228.JPG: Anonymous Some of the largest gifts in American history are from anonymous donors. Anonymous donors remain so for a variety of reasons, but still hope to signal a cause's or organization's worthiness to other potential donors.
Description of Subject Matter: Giving in America
November 29, 2016 – Permanent
Giving in America, a permanent exhibit that looks at the history of philanthropy’s role in shaping the United States, opened November 29 which is also #Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving. The exhibit showcases four major themes of American philanthropy centered on the questions of “Who Gives?” “Why Do We Give?” “What Do We Give?” and “How Do We Give?” and uses artifacts ranging from an alms box of the 1800s to a bucket used during the 2014-15 “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” which went viral on social media. The exhibit features a section devoted to an annual topic and will open with a look at “Sustainability and the Environment."
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