This is a small Civil War-era badge is pinned to the back of a watchmaker’s business card, with original brown ink description. Card measures 2.5” x 4”.

The badge is an oval of white metal, probably pewter or a similar cast alloy. “PHILADELPHIA” runs around the rim, and the rim is styled as a belt or strap with a buckle at the bottom, a common Victorian motif. In the center is an ornate script monogram that appears to be “SRR,” which could mean Soldiers’ Reading Room. A t-bar pin on the back passes through the card.

The handwritten inscription reads, “This Badge was a Soldiers Pass to the Reading Room in Philadelphia in 1862. Presented by James Sullivan.” Below it, “Boys in Blue” is written in the same brown ink. This inscription is written on the back of a business card. The card reads, “Geo. P. MacDermott, Practical Watchmaker, 2603 Oxford Street. Repairing a Specialty. Clocks called for and returned. All work warranted. Postal orders promptly attended to.” There is some old adhesive and cloth residue, likely from being mounted in a scrap book. George MacDermott was in business at that address during the Civil War.

Since Philadelphia was the main rail funnel for Union troops moving between New England, New York, and the front in Virginia and Washington. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers passed through the city. Philadelphians responded with a remarkable volunteer effort. The best-known examples are the Cooper Shop and Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloons near the Navy Yard, which fed soldiers in transit around the clock. The city was also headquarters of the U.S. Christian Commission, founded in 1861 out of the YMCA movement. The Commission ran reading rooms where soldiers could read, write letters home, and get stationery, newspapers, and religious tracts. This small metal badge must have served as a visible pass to go between camp or hospital and the reading room.  [jet][ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!