Antique Pin/back Souvenir of United Confederate Veterans Reunion, 1901 Civil War

Description: Super rare Antique Pin/back Souvenir of United Confederate Veterans Reunion, 1901 Civil War. Great condition all words are strong and raised and this is not worn down like most offered. I have taken high resolution photos so you can see every detail and flaw. On the reverse (back) you can still see the prominent makers mark. Unfortunately, the original pin back has been removed. Measures approximately 2 1/4 inches by 1 1/2 inches. Not magnetic appears to be copper/bronze. Imagines are of US and Confederate Flags tied together and bald eagle at the top. READS: Souvenir - United Confederate Veterans - May 28th 1901 - Memphis, Tenn Made in the United States in Milwaukee by Schwaab S. & S. Co. Makers mark is clear and prominent. Very fine and rare specimen hard to find in this great condition. Reunions held in Memphis - 1901, 1909, 1924 The United Confederate Veterans was an organization for former Confederate soldiers of the American Civil War, and was equivalent to the Grand Army of the Republic, which was the organization for the Union Veterans. The UCV was founded in 1889 as a "benevolent, historical, social and literary Association", and was active well into the 1940s, with it's final reunion being held in Norfolk, Virginia in 1951. The primary functions of the organization were to provide for widows and orphans of former Confederate soldiers, preserve relics and mementos, care for disabled former soldiers, preserve a record of the service of its members, and organize reunions and fraternal gatherings. At its height, membership was approximately 160,000 former Confederate soldiers organized into 1,885 local camps. They held 3 of their annual reunions in Memphis - the first in 1901 and 20,000 veterans attended. During the Reunions, there were many festivities associated with veterans. From 'The Center for Civil War Research': "Almost immediately after the end of the Civil War, veterans sought out occasions to gather together, to relive their shared experiences, find solace in their battle-forged bonds, to celebrate their heroic deeds, and commemorate the sacrifices of their fallen comrades. These reunions of regiments, corps, armies, and fraternal organizations - so important to the soldiers and their families - came eventually to serve as symbol of a wider national reunification, despite the vast majority of reunions remaining purely separate former Union or Confederate affairs. By contrast, at infrequent “Blue and Gray” reunions, veterans of both sides made conciliatory overtures, enjoyed the hospitality of former enemies and celebrated their collective American identity. Attended by the hundreds and thousands, reunions of all kinds evoked powerful sentiments and became fertile ground for the construction of Civil War memory. The location, frequency, attendance, and content of these reunions not only demonstrates the popularity of this form of remembrance, but also the national imperative to commemorate the Civil War in a way that honored its veterans and gave meaning to their sacrifices". Thanks to the Memphis Public Library and the University of Memphis Library for the info below. UCV Reunion - Memphis 1901 In 1901, Memphis hosted the eleventh Annual National Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans. The citizens of Memphis raised an astonishing $80,000 to construct an 18,000 seat Confederate Hall on the site of Confederate Park - the building to be demolished at the end of the reunion. One of the largest single donations ($1,000) came from the first black millionaire Robert Reed Church. The three-day reunion celebration culminated in a parade of 15,000 veterans through city streets draped in bunting and flags. The Commercial Appeal called it "the most imposing spectacle ever witnessed in the South." As part of those festivities, 12,000 people attended the Confederate Ball hosted by the Forrest Camp in Confederate Hall. Confederate Hall It was the largest Reunion ever held. The city was decorated with over 15,000 Confederate flags and all 15,000 of the Civil War survivors marched in the grand parade led by their generals. At any given spot, the parade took over two and a half hours to pass. Many Memphians opened their homes to the Veterans after all the hotel space was taken. President McKinley had been invited but had a conflict of dates, prevented his attendance, so he came a few days early.

Price: 495 USD

Location: Sonora, California

End Time: 2024-08-25T20:01:33.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD