Spirits of Camphor Bottle

Object/Artifact

-

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

Spirits of Camphor Bottle

Entry/Object ID

01.31.4a

Description

A large, clear, square-bottomed glass bottle with rounded shoulders, a flared lip, and narrow neck. There is a small amount of dark orange-brown liquid at the bottom with low viscosity. Several dark colored particles can be seen both in the liquid and stuck on the inside of the bottle. There is a dark brown residue coating the inside of the neck. There is a light brown, worn label with black borders and letters that wraps around the front and ends on both sides. Transcription: [PU]RCELL, LADD & CO. SPTS: CAMPHOR. 92 Main Street, Richmond, Va.

Made/Created

Date made

1800 - 1850

Dimensions

Height

3-3/4 in

Width

1-1/2 in

Depth

1-3/4 in

Material

Glass, Paper

Provenance

Notes

This camphor bottle comes from a larger set in the Henry family medicine chest (01.31.1). Spirits of camphor comes from the Camphor Laurel tree, native to the eastern and southern regions of Asia. Spirits of camphor were historically used for several reasons, including muscle aches and respiratory illnesses, and as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic. It also has a strong odor and was used in perfumes, pest control, fumigation, and embalming. Spirits of Camphor is still available today. The bottle has a lid (01.31.4b). This chest and its contents belonged originally to John (1796–1868) and Elvira McClelland Henry (1808–1875) during their years at Red Hill. The chest was passed down in the family to John and Elvira's daughter, Margaret Ann Henry Miller (1827–1881), and then to her daughter, Elvira Henry Miller (1850–1955). It was then given to Rose Miller Gammon Garrett (1946–) through her father, William Miller Gammon Sr. (1900–1970). William Gammon Sr. was a nephew to Elvira Miller. His daughter, Rose Garrett, is a third great-great-granddaughter of Patrick Henry. On September 4, 2001, Rose Gammon Garrett donated the medicine chest (01.31.1) and its contents (01.31.2-25) to the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation.