MSU Student Object Labels

State of Massachusetts-Bay. In the House of representatives. April 30, 1779. Whereas, the honorable Congress by a resolve of the ninth of March last, have requested this State to fill up the fifteen battalions as our quota of the Continental Army ... [Boston]; From the MSU Texas Moffett Library Special Collections.

By 1779, the United States was in dire straits and desperately needed men to serve in the military. To meet this need, the state legislature of Massachusetts issued a call to arms. They appealed to “every able-bodied effective Man who is disposed to engage in his Country's Cause,” pledging bounties of 300 dollars and a chance to earn an additional 200 dollars after six months of service. When the Continental Congress issued quotas to each state to raise troops, Massachusetts was ordered to raise 1,500 men to serve in fifteen battalions. Already years into the war, legislators hoped this might be the final push needed to rid the colonies of British tyranny. Soldiers who enlisted would be clothed and supplied, and their families would be supported by the government. Overall, this new call for troops appealed to both patriotism and pragmatism.

Grant Harvey
MA in History, expected 2026

“Cornwallis Defeated” in The Salem Gazette; From the MSU Texas Moffett Library Special Collections.

This copy of the Massachusetts-based newspaper, The Salem Gazette, was one of the ways that colonists learned of the devastating defeat of General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown. In his letter to King George III, Cornwallis discussed the extraordinary circumstances his soldiers faced when attempting to defend Yorktown while surrounded by Continental Army artillery. After suffering through constant mortar and howitzer bombardment, he gave the order for his soldiers to make a hasty naval retreat via the York River. While he had hoped to escape through the Chesapeake Bay, the wind buffeted his men, and they were captured by the Continental Army. The most successful British general of the Revolutionary War gave up his men and arms to the plucky American soldiers. In his letter, he discusses his exemplary treatment as a prisoner of the Continental Army and provides George III with a report of those lost in the conflict.

Oz Taylor
MA in History, expected 2026

Pennsylvania Ledger from Saturday, May 13, 1775; From the MSU Texas Moffett Library Special Collections.

Newspapers influenced how early Americans formed opinions about recent events, shaped who they supported, and eventually influenced who they voted for. The May 13, 1775 edition of The Pennsylvania Ledger featured a poem called “Lord North” that insulted England’s Prime Minister. The author referred to Lord North as a “Sprightly Imp”—a phrase that implied he was a mischievous troublemaker. By May 1775, the American colonists were engaged in war against the British Army. British and Patriot troops had clashed in Lexington and Concord the previous month. Moreover, the Second Continental Congress convened just three days before this newspaper was printed. By featuring a poem that insulted Lord North, the author attempted to sway the opinions of any loyalists, who were still unsure of which side to support in the war.

Cadence Gilbert
BA in Humanities, 2025

In 1775, the British passed the New England Trade and Fisheries Act, as known as the Restraining Acts. These acts controlled who New England colonists could trade with and prohibited local fisherman from fishing in many North Atlantic waters. The act had the potential to cripple New England's sources of income and food. This May 13, 1775 edition of The Pennsylvania Ledger detailed the House of Lords’ discussion of the act. The Marquis of Rockingham, who was sympathetic with the colonists, was spirited in his argument, calling the bill “evil.” He feared that thousands of innocent men and women would be “reduced to famine.” The Pennsylvania Ledger was one of many newspapers that shaped public opinion, and this edition is a subtle, yet perfect example of how newspapers appealed to their readers' emotions.

Emily Phillips
BA in History, expected 2026

Paul Revere, Bloody Massacre Perpetuated in King Street, Boston on March 5, 1770, 1770, Engraving; Gift of Minnie Rhea Wood, 1979.

This engraving was one of the first pieces of American propaganda to question the British soldiers’ reputation among the colonies. It gives us insight into the views of some Americans and their perspective on the occupation of Boston. The two sides of the image portray different experiences. On the left, the poses, the emotions, and chaos assert the colonists’ innocence. On the right, soldiers stand in line, suggesting the order and military harshness of these British soldiers. Things such as a puff of smoke from a second story or even a dog with its tail tucked between its legs suggest bias toward a certain view of the massacre; the soldiers are guilty and the Americans are innocent. All of these details paint a picture of oppression and tyranny against civilians who did no wrong and were gunned down.

Austin Long
BA in History, expected 2026

This hand-colored engraving shows British soldiers shooting inhabitants of Boston, Massachusetts on King Street after months of tension between the civilians and soldiers. Though there were many eye-witness accounts, there was not one clear story to describe the massacre. This led to uncertainty. Many questioned whether the soldiers or inhabitants of Boston started the brawl. Revere’s depiction blames the British. It encourages Americans to fight against British rule. By showing the British soldiers as aggressors who shot at defenseless civilians, colonists could visualize the tyranny of British rule. On the right, a British officer orders his men to shoot the civilians. This suggests that the British were in full control of the situation and that those who led the soldiers were cruel. Revere’s engraving only increased colonists’ dislike of British rule and encouraged them to fight for their needs and rights.

Nyasia Brown
BA in History, expected 2026

Paul Revere did not try to show the scene exactly as it happened. Instead, he made the British soldiers look like they were firing in a neat line on purpose, as if they planned the attack. In real life, the scene was messy and confusing, and witnesses debated whether an officer gave an order to shoot. Moreover, the engraving includes many symbols. The Custom House is labeled “Butcher’s Hall,” making the British look cruel. The sky is dark and smoky, and blood covers the ground to make the scene feel scary and sad. Revere even placed Crispus Attucks, a Black and Native American sailor, in the front to show the human cost of the event. This engraving is important because it shows how pictures can shape public opinion and help start a movement for change.

Madelyn Sutton
BA in History, 2025

Journals of Congress, 1776 v.2 (Page 190); From the MSU Texas Moffett Library Special Collections.

The Continental Congress is remembered for its willful dedication to frontline soldiers. These frontline soldiers bore the brunt of the conflict through many memorable battles and events such as the winter at Valley Forge and the Battle of Yorktown. However, these soldiers could not wage a war on sheer determination alone. The Continental Congress supported the troops with as much assistance as the fledgling government could muster. These records detail the decisions of the Continental Congress during the initial, tense months of the Revolutionary War. On this page, see the great lengths that the Continental Congress went to as they supplied the army with resources. These pages mention expenses for the war effort and reference the command of General Washington. Overall, the Journals of Congress chronicle an entire year of decisions that helped push the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War with funds, supplies, and even medical support.

Sean Provenza
BA in Political Science, 2025

Common Sense (with Quaker intro); From the MSU Texas Moffett Library Special Collections.

Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine, encouraged many colonists to embrace the idea of independence, showing how great they could be without Great Britain. Paine was a revolutionary and philosopher who argued for independence from Great Britain. He urged colonists to believe in the future of the United States of America as a sovereign nation. Paine hoped to target as many audiences within the colonies as possible, which is demonstrated by the letter dedicated to Quakers. He made many arguments for independence, mentioning the economy, resources, and religion, while also challenging the idea of a monarchy. These issues give insight into what ideas were important to the colonists during this time of uncertainty. Common Sense was vital to turning the colonists away from Great Britain and the king, allowing them to see the opportunities that the United States could provide.

Eden Shumate
BA in History, expected 2026

Edward Savage, Washington Family, 1798, engraving; Museum purchase, 1981.

Edward Savage’s The Washington Family visualizes how the early United States sought to define itself in the decades following independence. The painting shows George Washington, Martha Washington, her grandchildren Eleanor and George Washington Parke Custis, and an unnamed enslaved man. The Black man’s presence emphasizes the reliance of the Washington household and the nation itself on enslaved labor, even as liberty and progress are celebrated visually. The image simultaneously constructs a powerful national myth of the sophistication of the first executive family and exposes the inequalities that made it, making it a revealing artifact of American identity.

Isaias Tezaguic
BA in History, expected 2027

Off to the right, an unknown man stands in the corner. This man was likely enslaved by the Washington family. Washington’s relationship with slavery was remarkably interesting and complex. As a young man, he inherited many of his slaves that he kept throughout his life. When he married Martha, their estate gained another considerable number of slaves from her family. Washington himself enslaved around 123 people, but with Martha’s estate, that number increased to 317. Although the two together enslaved a substantial number of people, Washington’s views changed throughout his presidency, creating an interesting dynamic between his morals and his property. In his will, he ensured his 123 people would be freed. This opportunity was not one that other founding fathers took, making Washington the only founding father to free his slaves.

Sadie Christiansen
BSE in Child & Adolescent Studies, expected 2026

Federalist Papers; From the MSU Texas Moffett Library Special Collections.

As he tried to convince the states to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton was extremely worried about fighting between the states. In Federalist Paper No. 8, Hamilton outlined the terrible consequences of a possible war between states, including the erosion of freedoms due to a strong military. Hamilton believed that two types of nations existed in regards to army size: states relatively safe from threats and those vulnerable to invasion. Those safe from invasion developed naturally smaller armies while states vulnerable to invasion developed stronger armies. Hamilton believed that a stronger Union could protect the states from outside threats, allowing a smaller standing army. Hamilton argued that a stronger Union was actually in everyone’s best interest, especially concerning inter-state relations.

Patrick Redder
BA in History, expected 2026

The Connecticut Courant, June 29, 1780; From the MSU Texas Moffett Library Special Collections.

State militias were very important during the American Revolutionary War. In this article, families of the militiamen and the militiamen themselves learned that payment for their services would be issued soon. The state did not want to ignore the services these men had provided to secure freedom for the nation. Hopefully, promises of payment would encourage most men to stay in the militia and ensure that they remained faithful to the revolutionary cause.

Brendan Seigler
BA in History, expected 2026

Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer; From the MSU Texas Moffett Library Special Collections.

This collection of essays by an anonymous author was actually the work of John Dickinson, a well-off plantation owner and lawyer. He critiqued the British Empire and its attempts to halt colonial representation. He argued that the colonists had the right to representation and that the English had no ‘right to compel’ the colonists to pass the 1765 Stamp Act. Showing his training as a lawyer, he also argued from the British perspective. He stated that if the New York assembly had no right to decide taxation, then the British had ‘no right to punish them’ for a decision that the Americans could not make.

Conner Partridge
BA in History, expected 2026

Claude Regnier after Junius Brutus Stearns, Life of Washington - The Soldier, 1853, Lithograph; Museum purchase, 1994.

During the Revolutionary War, President George Washington understood the sacrifices necessary in order to secure a nation’s peace and endurance more than any other Founding Father. Washington sacrificed his quiet life as a farmer on his beloved Mt. Vernon in service to his country numerous times, as a soldier for Great Britain, Commander of the Continental Army, and later the first President of the United States. In this image, Washington is depicted during the Battle of the Monongahela, in full uniform, on horseback, sword aimed towards the enemy, and commanding his soldiers amid a foggy and harsh environment. Washington exhibits authority and discipline in a battlefield encompassed with chaos and casualties. The black and white color provides a solemn tone that emphasizes the violence of war while highlighting Washington as a composed military hero.

Ranferi Jaimes
BA in History, expected 2027

Journal of Congress Vol. 1 (Pgs. 196/197); From the MSU Texas Moffett Library Special Collections.

America was born out of the boldness of those willing to stand up and turn words into action. The men who brought about such massive changes were the ones who served in the original Continental Congress. These pages highlight who was sent to serve and outlines their purpose. Men from all across the thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia in pursuit of liberty and freedom. They convened “at this alarming Time, for the preservation and defense of our rights and liberties, and for the restoration of harmony upon constitutional Principles, between Great Britain and America.” For several decades leading up to the American Revolution, many colonists were solely focused on what was best for their particular colony. However, this focus transitioned to how the people of Great Britain’s North American colonies could best protect their interests as a whole, including the freedoms they held so dear.

Tucker Smith
BS in Political Science, expected 2027

Claude Regnier after Junius Brutus Stearns, Life of Washington - The Christian, 1853, Lithograph; Museum purchase, 1994.

Even though this work was named The Christian, there is some debate about Washington’s religiosity. Some say he prayed daily while others saying that he never prayed. Before the Revolutionary War, he was voted into a leadership position in Pohick Church, an Anglican church where his father was an active member. Yet, in his personal letters and accounts, he kept descriptions about God vague and never mentioned Jesus. His wife’s granddaughter said that he used to take part in the Lord’s Supper regularly. But after the Revolutionary War, he left church before the Lord’s Supper. In the end, Washington did not ask for a reverend or pastor to give him his last rites but was given an Episcopalian burial and Masonic rites. Regardless, this image portrays Washington as a devout Christian.

Ashley McCartney
BA in History, expected 2027