Collection Highlights
Section of water pipe
1800-1840
X.47
Wood, iron
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Commemorative plaque
Object name
Commemorative plaque
Date
1904-1910
Medium
Wood
Dimensions
Overall: 24 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 1 in. ( 62.2 x 26 x 2.5 cm )
Description
Handcarved and decorated plaque made of wood from the steamer "General Slocum"; vertical form with elaborately shaped top and bottom; woodburned decoration with "IN / MEMORY OF VICTIMS / ST. LUKES / CHURCH" at top, image of the steamer surrounded by angels at center, and a cross and anchor at bottom.
Credit Line
Gift of Rev. Paul H. Wasmund
Object Number
1955.47
Marks
woodburning: on obverse: "IN / MEMORY OF VICTIMS / ST. LUKES / CHURCH / ON / 1904 / JUNE 15th."
woodburning: on reverse: "MENORY [sic] / main / LAR"
Gallery Label
In a letter written in 1955, Howard Zuckgraf, son of the maker, explained that a short time after the General Slocum disaster in 1904 his father discovered a piece of driftwood along the shore of Bayonne, in the vicinity of the Statue of Liberty, that he believed was part of one of the boat's side wheel boxes. He began to decorate the wood with an "old fashion gas type" burning iron, which burned out before the design was completed.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
