Page 50 - January1948

NATIONAL BUTTON BULLETIN

'Cornmander-in-Chief's Guard.' The uniforDr of the guard is described in the
United States Qualtermaster's book ancl the coat had many silver buttorls,
arranged til.o and t\yo orr either llreast flap and cuffs.
"Newspaper and magazine alticles dated 18S3,1E89,1898,1900,1901 tell of
the existence of valious patterns of these \\'lshington l)uttons. Several of
these authol s speah of these l- uttons ?rs 'cillnl)aig n buttons.'
"I have heard also of a nunrber of these l)uttons being found in the pos-
session of old coin dealels, $'ho had liled off tht'shanks so that they p'oul(I
lie flat, and repl'esented them as rr|e (()ins. The]- are not rrre, althou€ih
they bring frorn fir'e to tr.n dollars apie( e. Tbe verl' character of the button,
preclu.lr.s all possibility of its hrrving b('en used ars a military button, as it
has all the'hurrah'of a (rtntaiBn l)utton and is not of a ntilitarJ- dest:ri1l-
tion.
''I have a Ief\'llrge:rnd virlual)le (.olle(.tion of nrilitarl'l)uttons fronr tht
Relolution clorvn, atr<1 nont' is; of su('h n chal actet as these Washingt,rtt
lluttons.
''I think I hl\r, srrppor tr.rl nlJ' , la irn thrrt th€. lrutton \\'?rs a 'cat-'rl)iliglt or
'commelnoflrte' one, rnd pt ovi d c'ont'lLlsi\'€'ll' front oRlcial dirta, that it \\';ls
not worn bl the ClomDandt'r-in-Chief's Guartl."
Dr. Theodole Wolfe, the previo.rs o.vt,tler of Mt's. Schmid's button men-
tions. in X{ay 1901, that by colrespondence 1!'ith val'ioils antiqual'ians. His-
torical Societies, and individuais, he iearned of the existence of nine WaSh-
ington buttons ovel'a period of eighteen years. These wele located in poittts
as far apal't as X{eckleDbufg, N. C. and Cambridge, Vt.
We have had the plivilege of reading this cot't'espondence which ac-
companied MIs. Schmid's button. It thlows additional light at least ou tlte
fact that collectors of a half century ago, coliectLlrcd lnuch the same as \Ye
do today regal'ding these Washitlgton I)uttons.
L. S. A.
I,AST N}IT'LOYRE AT \YILI,ISTON I}UI"I'ON SHOP
IIAIiFiS I'ItI.)SFl N 1'A'l'ION
Mr. William A. Walkel paid tribute to Mr. and Mls. Samuel Willistotl
on November Sth, rvhen he preseilted to Willistou Acadeniy several treasures
he has preserved silce he left the plant at its closiug itt 1922' His story
appeared in the Novembel'NBS BUTTON BULLETIN.
As the guests gathel'ed for luncheotl, they were delighted with the cor-
sages of gardenia blossoms, also place cards on each of which \4'as a button
made for the School in 1891, for the 5Oth Auniversary. Iu Ford Hall, at the
Academy school represelltatives surt'oundeil us \f ith students, and it was
inspirational for all of us to absorb the pleasant atmosphere of school life,
as it is today aDd to recall also the folesight of Samuel and Emily Williston,
and the rrany boys who had golle out frour the Academy iuto the world, to
benefit humanity.
Later rve sat in an itrformal circle about the Exhibition, with Mr. Guy
R. Carpenter as Master of Ceremotties. We were told that Williston ,\cademy
was founded oll a button, and that the san-te principles of life cotlduct which
the Founders of the IDstittition demonstrated-industry, humility, and the
desire to give, help, encourage aud work-are being itlstilled in the studel)ts
today.
The asseutbly was told about the Exhibition shown in Iudianapolis itt
October, and the recognition it received. In acceptiug the gifts presented by
Mr. Walker', Dr. Galblaith, the Headmaster, said that he enjoyed the spirit
of friendliness and giving which was shown during the assembling of the
Exhibit. The representative of William Skinner & Sons, in appreciation of
the satin back-drop, received a tray of Williston buttons. Mr. and Mrs.
Walker received a frane of buttons to hang in their home aud the National
ButtoD Society a tray also for the National Traveling Exhibit. The invited
guests included Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Carlson, Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Chamberlin,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Coe, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Albert, and the Educational
Chairmen for the Massachusetts exhibit, Mrs. Reba G. Smith and Mrs. Beulah
Tlffany.
It was a happy day at Willistou Academy, one to remember in the years
to come.
REBA G. SMITH