Image of a firefighter's membership certificate from the Cambridge Fire Department of Cambridge, Massachusetts, made out in manuscript to William T. King and dated August 13, 1879, with surrounding vignettes of a hook and ladder truck with a driver being drawn by two horses; a fire hose carriage with a driver being drawn by a horse; two side views of steam fire engines attached to a fire hydrant; and the rubble and ruins of buildings during a fire; the certificate and vignettes are bordered by utility poles and fire hoses. Single-color print; date based on year certificate was issued to recipient. "J.H. Bufford's Lith 490 Washn. St. Boston."--text, bottom center of certificate. "Cambridge Fire Department. This is to certify that William T. King is appointed a Member of Engine Company No Five of the Fire Department of the City of Cambridge and is entitled to all the immunities and invested with all the powers belonging to said office. Given under my hand, this Thirteenth day of Aug. A.D. 1879. Saml L. Montagu Mayor. Justin A. Jacobs, City Clerk." --text of certificate, printed and handwritten.
Type
image
Extent
1 lithograph : uncolored ; overall 50.8 x 60.17 cm (20 x 23 11/16 in.)
Fire departments Fire engines--Pictorial works Fire extinction--Equipment and supplies--Pictorial works Fires--Pictorial works Steam-engines--Pictorial works Ruins--Pictorial works Cambridge Fire Department Lithographs--1875-1900. (gmgpc) Certificates. (gmgpc)
Place
Cambridge (Mass.)
Source
Jay T. Last Collection Firefighting Large Size The Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History, Huntington Digital Library
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
