Elder Brewster armchair
about 1875–1895
Object PlaceProbably Massachusetts, United States
Medium/TechniqueOak, maple
Dimensions114.3 x 53.34 x 44.45 cm (45 x 21 x 17 1/2 in.)
Credit LineArthur Mason Knapp Fund
Accession number1978.386
On View
Not on viewClassificationsFurniture
Collections
ProvenanceAccording to family tradition, this chair was presented to Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), a Baptist minster who wrote the lyrics for "My Country, 'Tis of Thee") by the City of Boston at 1876 Centennial celebration in Boston (1) (2); descended to grandson, Harry Wilde Jones, to Smith's great grand-daughter Mary White Jones, of Hennepin County, Minnesota; 1978, purchased by the to MFA via Mrs. Susie Fullerton of Jackson Center, Ohio (Accession Date October 18, 1978).
1. Research suggests that the chair was not presented to SFS at a Centennial celebration in 1876, but more likely at a nationwide celebration of Samuel Francis Smith, as the author of the song "America" (My Country, 'Tis of Thee), in Boston on April 3, 1895. See object file for extensive newspaper coverage of the event.
2. The object file also contains an image of the chair in the parlor of Samuel Francis Smith at 1181 Center Street, Newton Centre, Mass., with its original leather seat showing. The photography was authenticated by Mary White Jones in 1948 (see object file).
1. Research suggests that the chair was not presented to SFS at a Centennial celebration in 1876, but more likely at a nationwide celebration of Samuel Francis Smith, as the author of the song "America" (My Country, 'Tis of Thee), in Boston on April 3, 1895. See object file for extensive newspaper coverage of the event.
2. The object file also contains an image of the chair in the parlor of Samuel Francis Smith at 1181 Center Street, Newton Centre, Mass., with its original leather seat showing. The photography was authenticated by Mary White Jones in 1948 (see object file).
About 1700–25
About 1720–50
About 1710–20
about 1675
about 1700
1850-1899
about 1650–1720
1695–1710
about 1650–1700
1665–80
about 1660–95