Medical history from a collection at marylands National Museum of health and medicine. Each week american artifacts takes you to museums to reveal what americans know about american history. Lamar alexander from richard rings onto bill clinton. He recalled his walk across tennessee after part of his 1978 gubernatorial campaign. And he shared stories behind his mementos in his d. C. Office. My walk across tennessee was 1978. I began on january 26th at my parentss home in east tennessee. And then i walked east until march 1st. A big three foot snowstorm. It took me to july 6th. Its 1,000 miles. I shook 1,000 hands a day and spent every week night with someone whom i didnt know. I grew up in the great smokies. Or right next to it. Our scout troop every weekend, we would be in the mountains. And i love the outdoors. And so do most tennesseeans. We have more people with hunting and fishing licenses than vote in republican pry marries, for example. When i ran for governor for the first time
This is a volume that was owned by martha washington. It is a you can see her signature m. Washington. And its an Early Edition printed in england. It was known as a help and guide to christian families published in london in 1752. So quite likely a book she may well, you can imagine, have taken along with her to camp to spend the winter at valley forge. The top of the page is missing, almost certainly it was clipped by an autograph collector in the 19th century, presumably her name would have been written out there as well and it was probably clipped by a collector. And if any viewers have that in your collection, we would love to reunite the book and the autograph. But there is her signature, martha washington. So its entirely possible to imagine that thats a book that spent the winter at valley forge along with the general and his suffering soldiers. A few other objects, again, an object that quite likely was also used in valley forge, the soldiers canteen. It seems like a fairly mu
Things like canteens that they could try to get a better handle on keeping on that material. One of the great treasures in our collection is a simple modest little flag, blue background, that bears 13 stars and it was general washingtons personal standard. So it really signified his presence. When you saw that flag, you knew general washington was in command. And its incredible that it has survived. So few flags from the revolution have. It kaem came to us from a desce of general washingtons sister betty. Her son was an officer in whats called the lifeguard. These were the men and officers personally assigned to general washington and had the responsibility of ensuring his safety. So its a wonderful object directly from the washington family that, again, reflects his command, his leadership of the Continental Army during revolution. The museum will be located in the very heart of philadelphias historic area. The National Park service agreed with the importance of this museum and gave u
Visits, you gather all the old veterans like Thomas Jefferson and tom adams are alive and they get together and celebrate lafayette. Its a wonderful explanation of patriot rancic memory. Its probably one of the first where were looking and embracing history. People are starting to be able to purchase their copies of the declaration of independence and put them above the fireplace. And were celebrating the words and the actual document. So fortunately, this room kind of becomes a Historic Place before they got to the point of totally getting rid of the building and turning it down to build something new. Were really lucky in a lot of ways it was used long enough it became important. By the mid1800s, this whole thing is a museum. One of the most fascinating stories in this room when the liberty bell, spent almost a hundred years in our bell tower cracked, they put it in this room. And one of my favorite days thats not one of the days of the revolutionary wars comes 150 years ago today th
That housed him in every campaign of the revolution. It was acquired by the minister from the valley forge era and that launched a century of collecting and launched the idea of a museum to tell the entire story of the revolution. The collections of the museum are incomparable. They have no peer. We have objects related to washington which truly are unique. One of a kind. And they bring to life his leadership, his incredible role in keeping the Continental Army together and never waivvering fm his goal of success. At the same time, we have objects that represent the common foot soldier, the cavalry man we have objects that reflect the role of not just american soldiers but british and french and native americans. So our collection will enable to us to present the entire story of the American Revolution all to come to philadelphia. Scott stevenson is the director of collections and interpretation for the museum and hes the ideal person to oversee the creation of these exhibits. He is ph