Wide Awakes' Campaign Transparency
A rare Campaign Transparency from 1860 is constructed of a
wooden box frame and covered with printed cotton fabric on
two sides. This artifact, is from the collections of
the
Columbia County Historical
Society,
was made for and used by the Chatham branch of the Wide
Awakes at political rallies. It retains is original pole
and metal braces. Follow the treatment on
Facebook.
This unique artifact will be on display in their
up-coming Civil War exhibition to open in the spring.
An oil lamp would have been secured in place on the base
inside the fabric box. Ghost marks survive and nail holes
are present at the center of the wooden base.
The two lost sides of the transparency are going to be
compensated with new cotton fabric in a color that blends.
Diane Schewchuk, curator came to assist with the selection
of the fabric. A protective cover was constructed to be
used for storage.
The Wide Awake transparency on display at the Columbia County Historical Society in
their current Civil War exhibition "A Civil War
Panorama, Columbia County 1860-1865..
