UNITED STATES CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY EDUCATION OUTREACH SCHOLARSHIP FALL 2012 CATALOG VOLUME XX Your Capitol, Our Mission Celebrating 50Years of Inspiring Informed Citizenship Visit Our Websites: www.uschscatalog.org or www.constitutionstore.org ON THE COVER 2013 “We, the PeoPle” CALENDAR This collectible calendar features stunning photography, historic art and prints, and informative daily notations commemorating the ses- quicentennial of the U.S. Civil War. Produced since 1968, the calendar showcases some of Washington, DC’s most talented photographers – including a majestic cover image of the Capitol by noted photographer Carol M. Highsmith. #002673 $9.95 Members $8.95 “We, the PeoPle” BOOKENDS This collectible set of bookends is a welcome addition to any library setting. Beautifully crafted with a scroll like front that incorporates the preamble in this classic design. Gift boxed with provenance for easy gift giving. (7 1/2” x 9 1/2” x 4”) #002638 $152.00 Members $136.80 50TH ANNIVERSARY TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMEMORATIVE BOX On the Cover page 2 Article:“Your Capitol, Our Mission”page 3 Article (Con’t) page 4 Architectural and patriotic relief Historic Gift Ideas page 5 designs adorn this beautiful ivory Art & Architecture page 6 resin box that can be used for a Art & Architecture page 7 multitude of purposes. Art & Architecture page 8 Art & Architecture page 9 (3 1/2” x 3 1/2” x 2” square) Capitol Ideas for Her page 10 #002655 $36.00 Capitol Ideas for Him page 11 Members $32.40 Ornaments page 12 Ornaments page 13 Ornaments page 14 Timely Gift Ideas page 15 Capitol Gift Ideas page 16 Capitol Gift Ideas page 17 Capitol Dining page 18 Historic Dining page 19 It’s Documented page 20 It’s Documented page 21 Educational Games page 22 Historic Puzzles & Games page 23 Young Historian page 24 Books page 25 Holiday Cards page 26 Article “1812: Congress...” page 27 Back Cover page 28 2 For Ordering toll free call: 1-800-887-9318, ext. 10 YOUR CAPITOL, OUR MISSION 1962: THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOUNDED ifty years ago John F. Kennedy was in the Fsecond year of his presidency, the Beatles released their first single, professional basket- ball player Wilt Chamberlain scored a record 100 points in a game, Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was executed in Israel, the first Walmart store opened, film star Marilyn Monroe died, the Cuban Missile Crisis threatened to turn the Cold War hot, and the United States Capitol Historical Society was founded. Fred Schwengel, a Congressman from Iowa, was a founder and the On July 17, 1962, fifteen men and women met in First Society President. He had the United States Capitol to establish the United taught history in high school before States Capitol Historical Society. The meeting entering business and politics. had been called by Representative Fred Schwengel, who had represented Iowa’s First District since 1955. Fred Schwengel’s interest in history antedated his congressional service. As a college student-athlete in Missouri three decades earlier, he had heard the famous American poet and biographer Carl Sandburg speak about Lincoln. That experi- ence stimulated his interest in Lincoln, Republican politics, and American history. As a businessman in Davenport, Iowa, he continued to build a collection of books, pamphlets, and art relating to Lincoln that is today housed in a special collection at his alma mater, Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville. In Congress he initiated the commemoration of the sesquicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth in 1959, and he played key roles in the congressional celebrations of the centennials of the 16th President’s first and second inaugurals. He was also a member of the Civil War Centennial Commission. Given Fred Schwengel’s interest in history it was logical for him to seek out like- minded colleagues. Soon after his arrival he sought to join a historical society but found that none existed in Congress. Research indicated that there had been a short-lived American Historical Society (1835-1840) on Capitol Hill, whose presi- dent had been Congressman John Quincy Adams, but none had been organized since that time. He held several conversations with friends in the history commu- nity, including Allan Nevins, Carl Sandburg, and University of Maryland History Professor Walter Rundell. Schwengel had also developed a friendship with Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn who was equally devoted to the Capitol and its his- tory. As Fred retold the story, one Saturday morning over breakfast in the House restaurant he had been lamenting the lack of a historical society when Rayburn interrupted, “By damn, let’s do something about it.” It was from that abrupt but pragmatic suggestion that the July 17, 1962 meeting later developed. In the ensuing weeks the founders of this fledgling endeavor reached decisions that would shape the future of the organization. A membership committee meeting on July 26, 1962, addressed the basic question of financing—would the Society be self- supporting or would it rely upon congressional appropriations? 3 Visit Our Constitution Store: www.constitutionstore.org YOUR CAPITOL, OUR MISSION HISTORIC GIFT IDEAS he memorandum of the meeting records their Tdecision: “It is the sense of your Committee that the objectives of the Society could best be achieved if it were self-supporting.” The recommendation to avoid government subsidization had originated earlier from conversations with Senator Hubert Humphrey, who had argued that congressional funding would jeopardize the Society’s nonprofit status and its independence of action. The member- ship committee believed that the Society could be privately financed through a combination of grants, membership fees, and sales receipts. Current Society President Ron The Articles of Incorporation were adopted at a Sarasin leads the organization meeting held on August 28, 1962. The key provision into the next period in its history. was the statement of purposes and objectives found in article three: -The purpose for which the corporation is formed, and the business and the objects to be carried on and promoted by it are to encourage in the most comprehensive and enlightened manner an understanding by the people of the founding, growth and sig- nificance of the Capitol of the United States of America as the tangible symbol of their representative form of government; to undertake research into the history of the Con- gress and the Capitol and to promote the discussion, publication and dissemination of the results of such studies; to foster and increase an informed patriotism of the land in the study of this living memorial to the founders of this nation and the continuing thread of principles as exemplified by their successors. The Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Office of Superintendent of Corporations of the District of Columbia on August 8, and the seal was affixed to the document on October 3, 1962. The first meeting of the incorporators took place on the following day at which time a proposed constitution was adopted and the officers were elected. The Internal Revenue Service ruled on October 17 granting the Society tax-exempt status as a nonprofit organization under section 50l(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Within the space of three months Fred Schwengel’s dream of a historical society on Capitol Hill had become a reality. Fifty years later, the organization, now led by President Ron Sarasin, also a former member of Congress, still strives to inspire informed citizenship by bringing the story of the Capitol and the Congress to the people. THE SOCIETY CATALOG An informational and educational resource of the U. S. Capitol Historical Society Chairman of the Board: Hon. E. Thomas Coleman President: Hon. Ronald A. Sarasin Vice President Scholarship & Education: Dr. Donald Kennon Vice President Merchandising: Diana E. Wailes Articles: Dr. Donald Kennon, Photography: Randy Groves Editor & Designer: Diana E. Wailes 4 For Ordering toll free call: 1-800-887-9318, ext. 10 YOUR CAPITOL, OUR MISSION HISTORIC GIFT IDEAS COLUMBUS DOOR BOOKENDS Crafted from the marble taken from the east front steps during the 1995 renovations, these bookends are based on the 17-foot tall, 20,000 pound bronze doors in the east front of the Capitol building. The doors have a curved semicircular tympanum above two valves that are divided into four panels each which depict the life of Christopher Columbus. Engraved in the base of the bookends is the quote by Carl Sandburg; “Whenever a People or an Institution Forgets its Hard Beginnings it is Beginning to Decay.” (9 1/2” x 5” x 3”) #002404 $128.00 Members $115.20 MARBLE BLOCK BOOKENDS These traditional marble bookends will allow you to own a piece of living history—taken from the original east front Capitol steps. Crafted from Massachusetts marble and mounted on Virginia walnut, these handsome bookends are gift boxed with a certificate of authenticity. (Approximately 4 1/2” x 7” x 4 3/4”) #002399 $195.00 Members $175.50 MARBLE PAPERWEIGHT Decorative pieces of history constructed from actual marble of the Capitol and mounted on handcrafted walnut. Fashioned from a slice of the original steps of the east front of the House of Representatives wing of the Capitol laid between 1863 and 1865. Boxed with a letter of authenticity. (3 1/2” x 3 1/2”) #000293 $55.00 Members $ 49.50 GREAT SEAL PAPERWEIGHT This unique 3 1/2-inch diameter paperweight, featuring an antique relief of the Great Seal of the United States, is crafted from marble from the east front steps of the Capitol. The marble pieces are ground to a fine powder and mixed with resin. Felt feet protect your desk or table top. Truly one of a kind for all your gift-giving needs.