Harvey Rachlin - Jumbos Hide, Elviss Ride, and the Tooth of Buddha: More Marvelous Tales of Historical Artifacts

The Tooth of the Buddha

Kurunegoda Piyatissa of the New York Buddhist Vihara invited me into his sanctuary and with extraordinary patience spent many hours explaining the subject material of this chapter to me. Over the course of time Reverend Piyatissa continued to assist me; he was always a kind and generous purveyor of information, and I am most grateful to him.

The Gold Larnax of King Philip II

Andreas G. Vlachopoulos, Hellenic Ministry of Culture; Dr. Angeliki Kottardi, Archaeological Museum of Vergina.

The Magna Carta

Dr. Christopher Fletcher, Curator, Literary Manuscripts, The British Library; Dr. Andrew Prescott, The British Library; A. C. Dawson, Salisbury Cathedral; Darlene McClurkin, Exhibits Staff, National Archives.

The Stone of Scone

I am most indebted to Christine Reynolds, Assistant Keeper, Muniment Room and Library, Westminster Abbey, for answering my questions and providing additional details. Ms. Reynoldss correspondence was invaluable to me in writing this chapter. Christopher J. Tabraham, Principal Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Historic Scotland.

The Essex Ring

Christine Reynolds, Westminster Abbey; John J. Doherty, Reference Librarian, Montana State University Library; John Ulatowski graciously conducted valuable research for me.

Galileos Middle Finger

Mara Miniati, Institute of the History of Science, Florence, Italy. Permission to reproduce the Tommaso Perelli quote was kindly provided by the Institute of the History of Science.

George Washingtons Schoolboy Copybooks

I am indebted to Dr. Gerard W. Gawalt, a historian at the Library of Congress, who extended to me a rare privilege by granting me permission to personally examine two of the three extant George Washington copybooks (one of the volumes was on display during my visit). This was a most thrilling and exhilarating experience for me. I was able to spend a day touching and combing through the very pages George Washington wrote on as a youth in the 1740s. As one who is passionate about historical artifacts, I am grateful to Dr. Gawalt for the opportunity to examine firsthand a fabulous national treasure.

John Harrisons Fourth Marine Timekeeper

Jonathan Betts, National Maritime Museum, London.

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

I am grateful to Dr. John Sellers of the Library of Congress not only for the information he provided but for setting me on the trail to pursue the thesis of this chapter; Dr. Gerard W. Gawalt, Library of Congress; Zanne Macdonald, Research Librarian, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation; Rebecca Bowman, Research Historian, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation; John Butler, Old Military and Civil Branch, Textual Services Division, National Archives; Tom Albro, Head of the Book and Paper Treatment Section of the Conservation Division of the Library of Congress.

The Rising Sun Chair

Robert L. Giannini, Ann Marie Dube, and Karen Diethorn of Independence National Historic Park.

The Louisiana Purchase Treaty

John Butler, National Archives; Michael E. Pilgrim, Archives Reference Branch, Textual Reference Division, National Archives; Rebecca Bowman, Research Historian, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation; Aloha P. South, National Archives.

The Lewis and Clark Journals

Generous assistance for this chapter came from Carolyn Gilman, Special Projects Historian, Missouri Historical Society. Ms. Gilman read the chapter and suggested many valuable changes. Scott DeHaven, Assistant Manuscripts Librarian, American Philosophical Society; David F. Moore, Manuscript Specialist, Western Historical Manuscript Library; Jane Ehrenhart, Supervisor, Reference and Technical Services, Illinois State Historical Library; Carol M. Spawn, Archivist, The Academy of Natural Sciences; Rebecca Bowman, Research Historian, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation; Maureen D. Heher, Public Services Assistant, The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Beethovens Ear Trumpets

Dr. M. Ladenburger, Beethoven House; S. Brandenburg and Nicole Kampken, Beethoven Archive; Maria Sivak Rachlin, Lexington School for the Deaf.

Harrisons Peace Pipes

Lisa Ann Shockley, Registrar Assistant, The Kansas City Museum (Ms. Shockley provided the information on the history of the Dyer collection); Jim Crocker, National Museum of Natural History; Kristen Froehlich, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

John Adamss Pigtail

Barbara Tomlinson, Curator, Antiquities, National Maritime Museum, London.

The Doubleday Ball

I enthusiastically give credit for this chapter to Thomas R. Heitz, a consummate baseball historian. Mr. Heitz laid out the whole story of the Doubleday myth for me, and provided a comprehensive explanation of the history of baseball, including its roots, evolution, and development as a professional sport in America. Mr. Heitzs historical baseball knowledge is encyclopedic and he is a passionate and articulate spokesman of the game. He also generously faxed me many pages of rare baseball documents, and was always available to answer questions and provide additional information, anecdotes, and colorful stories.

For a physical description of the Doubleday Ball I would like to thank Tim Wiles and Peter Clark, and for research documents, Frank Vito, all of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Vendovis Head

Dr. David Hunt, National Museum of Natural History; Gary E. Cantrell and the Special Collections section at Swirbul Library, Adelphi University.

The Battle Sword of Colonel Najera

Generous assistance was provided by James Nottage, Vice President and Chief Curator of the Autry Museum of Western Heritage. Mr. Nottage brought this artifact to my attention and provided information on it, including a physical description of the sword.

Charles Dickenss Prompt-Copy of A Christmas Carol

Kenneth Benson; Rodney Philips, Curator of the Berg Collection, New York Public Library; Lou Ellen Davis. The opening scene of the chapter is reconstructed from various sources including newspaper reviews of Dickenss final reading.

The First American Flag Raised in Japan

James W. Cheevers, Associate Director and Senior Curator, U.S. Naval Academy.

The Emancipation Proclamation

Much gratitude is due to Dr. John Sellers of the Library of Congress for providing information and documents and answering questions. James Corsaro, The New York State Library; Judith Giuriceo, The Brooklyn Historical Society; Michael E. Pilgrim, National Archives.

Slices of Tom Thumbs Wedding Cake

I am especially grateful to Chris Coenen, one of the best authorities around on Tom Thumb. Mr. Coenen not only graciously shared with me his knowledge of Tom Thumb, but also provided many rare documents. I also wish to thank Dr. Marvin Kranz of the Library of Congress and Barbara Celitans of the San Antonio Public Library.

Thomas Edisons Original Tinfoil Phonograph

Douglas Tarr, Edison National Historic Site.

Jesse Jamess Stickpin

Gary Chilcote of the Patee House Museum and the Director and National President of the James-Younger Gang generously provided information and rare documents on Jesse James; James Starrs; Sarah Elder and Marilyn Taylor, St. Joseph Museum.

Ulysses S. Grants Smoking Stand

For this chapter I was most fortunate to have the generous assistance of one of the foremost Grant scholars, John Y. Simon, U. S. Grant Association, Morris Library, Southern Illinois University. I also wish to thank Terry Miller, Sheila Cottral, and Peggy Ruthenberg, U. S. Grant Home State Historic Site; Nancy Wolfe, The Galena-Jo Daviess County Historical Society and Museum.

Jumbo the Elephant

Chris Coenen.

Freuds Couch

I am very grateful to Dr. Henry Mallard of the Psychoanalytic Society and Institute for kindly giving me a mini-course on Freud and providing colorful anecdotes; Erica Davies, Director, Freud Museum. (The Freud Museum, located at 20 Maresfield Garden, London, is open Wednesday to Friday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 P.M.)