Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Located in the heart of Morristown, New Jersey's National Historic District, Macculloch Hall Historical Museum was built by George and Louisa Macculloch. The Maccullochs emigrated from London, England to New York City in 1806. In 1810, they purchased 26 acres and a one-story stone bank house from General John Doughty, a commander in George Washington's Army during the Revolutionary War. The Maccullochs built their Federal style brick mansion, the first significant brick structure in Morristown, in 1810 and added onto it in 1812 and 1819 as their family's influence in local, state, and national history grew. Today, MHHM interprets the history and collections throughout the house's well-preserved rooms and galleries. We offer a diverse schedule of changing exhibitions, educational and public programs attended by thousands of visitors annually.

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Resources from Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Resource Kit

The Country's Waiting Game: Thomas Nast Illustrates the Months After the 1876 Election

The political situation in the United States has always been dynamic. The Presidential Election of 1876 pitting the Democrat Samuel J. Tilden (1814-1886) against the Republican Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893) was no different. The campaign was tough for both candidates, but the real battle began after Election Day on November 7, 1876. The winner would not be named for almost four months after Election Day. The vote of the Electoral Commission was finally approved in the early hours of the morning on March 2, 1877. Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the President Elect just two days before inauguration. This research kit explores and answers the following questions: How can political cartoons be used for understanding the aftermath of the 1876 election? What role does compromise play in politics? What role do artists play in politics and elections?

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Resource Kit

Political Cartoons: Thomas Nast's Editorial Perspective of Current Events in his Time

Thomas Nast (1840-1902) worked at one of the most important illustrated newspapers in the United States during the 19th century. Nast worked for "Harper's Weekly" during the American Civil War (1861-1865). President Abraham Lincoln called Nast his "best recruiting sergeant" for the Union because of the power of his illustrations. Nast built readers' visual literacy through thousands of published images. Nast's political cartoons addressed current events in the United States during his lifetime including: slavery, political corruption, race, war, and other themes. This Resource Kit examines a selection of Nast's political cartoons from the Civil War and asks the following questions: How does an artist's values impact their work? Why does the intended audience matter? How do political cartoons communicate current events?

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Resource Kit

Drawing History: History Told Through Thomas Nast Political Cartoons

Thomas Nast worked at the three most important illustrated newspapers in New York City. Nast worked for "Harper's Weekly" during the Civil War and received recognition from President Abraham Lincoln as his "best recruiting sergeant" for the Union. Through thousands of images drawn by Thomas Nast, he built readers' visual literacy. After just four years working full time at "Harper's Weekly", Thomas Nast took a break during the summer of 1867-1897 to work on his idea for "The Grand Caricaturama", 33 large paintings presented with music and narration telling the history of the United States from Nast's perspective in live theater. Today only 8 of those paintings are known to exist.

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No Rest for the Wicked- Sentenced to More Hard Labor

Thomas Nast drawing published on the cover of Harper's Weekly on December 2, 1876. Donated by Nancy C. and Thomas A. Cantwell

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Another Such Victory, and I am Undone

Thomas Nast drawing published in Harper's Weekly on March 24, 1877

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Our Uncle Sam Going to Take a Rest

Thomas Nast drawing published in Harper's Weekly on April 7, 1877 New donation from the Estate of John Adler

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Nay Patience, Or We Break The Sinews

Thomas Nast drawing published on the front page of Harper's Weekly on May 5, 1877 Donated by Nancy C. and Thomas A. Cantwell

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A Truce- Not a Compromise, But a Chance for High Toned Gentleman to Retire Gracefully from their Very Civil Declarations of War

Thomas Nast image published in Harper's Weekly on February 17, 1877

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Compromise- Indeed

Thomas Nast image printed in Harper's Weekly on January 27, 1877

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The Electoral Vote

Thomas Nast image published in Harper's Weekly on January 27, 1877

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This Terrible Suspense Still Continues

Thomas Nast engraving printed in Harper's Weekly on February 24, 1877.

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4-00,000 More

Engraving by Thomas Nast published in Harper's Weekly on December 9, 1876

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A National Game that is Played Out

Thomas Nast engraving published in Harper's Weekly on December 23, 1876

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"Keep Cool!" Ten Day After the Election and Go South Young Man

Thomas Nast engravings printed in Harpers Weekly on December 2, 1876

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Light Artillery

One of five colored lithographs made for Currier and Ives

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The Artist in the Art

The Country's Waiting Game: Thomas Nast Illustrates the Months After the 1876 Election

Thomas Nast drew himself in three of the political cartoons featured in this resource kit. He drew cartoons about current events in a widely-read newspaper that many people saw. Click through the slideshow to review the images with Thomas Nast. Question to consider: What role do artists play in politics? What does that look like today?

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Student Engagement: Using Political Cartoons to Understand the 1876 Election

The Country's Waiting Game: Thomas Nast Illustrates the Months After the 1876 Election

Political cartoons can tell us a lot about the time they were made. They can tell us about the attitudes of people, the knowledge people had, and how events made people feel. Pick a political cartoon from the previous slideshow and answer the follow questions about it. These questions are available as a downloadable PDF at the bottom of page.

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Victory

The Country's Waiting Game: Thomas Nast Illustrates the Months After the 1876 Election

After Hayes was sworn in as the 19th President of the United States, Nast made a few more political cartoons expressing his thoughts on the results. Click through the slideshow below to learn about three of the political cartoons published after the election results were decided.

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Student Engagement: Political Cartoon Venn Diagram

The Country's Waiting Game: Thomas Nast Illustrates the Months After the 1876 Election

Compare and contrast the two political cartoons, "Compromise- Indeed" and "A Truce-Not a Compromise" in the Venn Diagram. Both images are available for download in the Additional Resources section below. What is the same? What is different?

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Compromise

The Country's Waiting Game: Thomas Nast Illustrates the Months After the 1876 Election

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Using Political Cartoons to Understand the 1876 Election

The Country's Waiting Game: Thomas Nast Illustrates the Months After the 1876 Election

The months between Election Day on November 7, 1876 and Inauguration Day on March 5, 1877 were stressful for the country. Thomas Nast created political cartoons for "Harper’s Weekly" depicting the situation in the United States sometimes putting a humorous spin on this serious situation. Nast was a staunch supporter of the Republican Party at the time, though he did not like the Republican Hayes, going so far as to not depict Hayes in his political cartoons. Nast also editorially attacked the Democratic candidate Tilden. Click through the images of Nast's political cartoons on the election of 1876 on the slideshow below and consider the question: How are political cartoons useful for understanding the aftermath of the 1876 election?

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

The Election of 1876

The Country's Waiting Game: Thomas Nast Illustrates the Months After the 1876 Election

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Wrap-Up Discussion Questions

Political Cartoons: Thomas Nast's Editorial Perspective of Current Events in his Time

Think about how the arts and any kind of visual medium shape memory and opinion in our democratic society, and how that has been happening for centuries especially as illustrated by Thomas Nast, and how this continues today.

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Student Engagement: Memes

Political Cartoons: Thomas Nast's Editorial Perspective of Current Events in his Time

Team USA gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik at the 2024 Paris Olympics, NBC

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Thomas Nast Illustrates Values: Emancipation

Political Cartoons: Thomas Nast's Editorial Perspective of Current Events in his Time

This is one of Thomas Nast’s most powerful Civil War engravings created when he was just 22 years old. In this double-page centerfold Nast illustrates what he believed to be the past and the future of enslaved people in the United States. Click on each blue star to learn more about the image.

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Thomas Nast Illustrates Current Events

Political Cartoons: Thomas Nast's Editorial Perspective of Current Events in his Time

Click on the stars to learn about the image below. Question to consider: How can political cartoon communicate current events?

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

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