Writing Case

Object/Artifact

Vermont Historical Society

Name/Title

Writing Case

Entry/Object ID

1992.30.2a

Description

Leather field case for a lap desk. The case is a boxy leather container with a flap covering. There are two tabs sewn onto the flap that buckle to the face of the piece. Both of the buckles are missing but the end of the tabs they were attached to are intact. The flap covering has a rectangle cut out of the top center to accommodate the handle of the desk, allowing the set to be carried by the handle. The front of the flap has "R Kinsley" scored into it. On the top is "F" and "8 Vt", and scored into the face is "Co F / 8th Vt."

Context

Presented to Rufus Kinsley, superintendent of the May Street Sunday School for Negroes, Boston on his retirement in 1857. Kinsley carried the case during his service in the Civil War as part of Co. F, 8th Vermont and Co. G 74th US Colored Infantry. He continued to educate many formerly enslaved people during the war.

Acquisition

Accession

1992.30

Source or Donor

Kinsley, Sumner E.

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

For the descendants of Rufus Kinsley

Made/Created

Date made

1857 - 1865

Place

City

Boston

State/Province

Massachusetts

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Case, Writing

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Case, Writing Equipment

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Container, Writing Equipment

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Writing Accessories

Nomenclature Class

Written Communication T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 06: Tools & Equipment for Communication

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

12-1/4 in

Width

12-1/4 in

Depth

2-3/4 in

Material

Wood, Artificial Leather, Brass, Leather

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Kinsley, Rufus (1831-1911)

Person or Organization

8th Vermont Infantry

Related Events

Event

Civil War

Web Links and URLs

Diary of Rufus Kinsley