The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana has opened a new permanent exhibit telling the story of Ulysses S. Grant’s vice president Schuyler Colfax. Colfax was born on March 23, 1823 and the exhibit was opened for the Bicentennial of his birth. Although he was born in New York City, Colfax rose to political prominence in South Bend, where he was elected to Congress and served as the Speaker of the House during the Civil War.
Here is the description of the exhibit from the museum:
Showcased in Colfax: Speaker for Freedom is the chair used by Schuyler Colfax when he was Speaker of the House during Lincoln’s administration. When Colfax left office, members of Congress made a gift of the chair to him. Colfax brought the chair back to his South Bend home. The chair was given to The History Museum in 1949.
The gown worn by Ellen Wade Colfax on March 4, 1869, at her husband’s inauguration as vice president can also be seen in the exhibit. Given to The History Museum by the Colfax family in the 1920s, the gown was on permanent display for years, due to its popularity. Around 1978, it was removed from display due to structural damage, a common and non-preventable issue with silks from the Victorian Era. In 1996, the gown was restored by Harold Mailand of Textile Conservation Services, Indianapolis.
Also on view is a gavel used in 1862 to call to order the first Confederate Congress in Richmond, Virginia. It was presented to Colfax at the seemingly wry suggestion of Abraham Lincoln, as the gavel would have been wielded by the Confederate Speaker of the House. It was likely acquired when Richmond was taken by Union forces in April 1865.The gavel was donated to The History Museum in 1949 by Schuyler Colfax’s granddaughter.
In addition to the exhibit, The History Museum is launching online access to the Colfax Collection. In October 2021, The History Museum initiated a project to digitize the vast number of photographs, documents, and artifacts related to Schuyler Colfax. Photographs and documents were scanned, and documents, including letters written by Colfax, were transcribed for the museum’s archives. Now completed, The History Museum’s Colfax Collection is one of the largest in the country. It will provide immeasurable research for individuals. The project was underwritten by two anonymous donors, friends of The History Museum. The Colfax digitization is part of a larger initiative undertaken by the museum, one that will also focus on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and local African American history.
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I find this fascinating. I can’t imagine all the pressure this man was under. Probably close to what Lincoln had to deal with. Keeping the lawmakers focused while enduring so many casualties, war expenses, and the rest for four years during those days took real talent. Lincoln knew what we often forget, that the war was a major political team effort. Because it involved the first time our country instituted, a draft, a blockade or even reformation of the currency and banking laws. The first institution of the income tax, the equipping of very large armies over a significant period of time must’ve set off giant eruptions of fierce debate!