Volck, Adalbert John (1828-1912) Offering of bells to be cast into cannon
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00493.19 Author/Creator: Volck, Adalbert John (1828-1912) Place Written: s.l. Type: Print Date: circa 1880-1890 Pagination: 1 etching : b&w ; 26.1 x 34.6 cm. Order a Copy
Depicts a pastor and members of his congregation presenting church bells to be used to create weapons of war. The officer who accepts the bells removes his hat in recognition of the reverence of the occasion. Slaves perform the work of lifting the bells and other materials. The slave to the left of the center of the sketch, with his long apron and muscular arms, has also doffed his hat. Among the other items that have been donated appear to be candlesticks and andirons. This is one of the few sketches to which Volck put his own initials "AJV" in the lower left corner. The intials "EBM" also appear above Volck's intials. Size in extent is for the mount. The actual size of the etching is 20.3 x 26.6 cm. Title in pencil on verso.
Adalbert John Volck was a dentist, political cartoonist, and a caricaturist who sympathized with the Southern cause. During the Civil War, Volck supported the Confederacy through his satirical political cartoons. He also smuggled drugs and medical supplies for the Confederate army, and served as a personal courier to President Jefferson Davis.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.