This ring is believed to have been received at a ball in Washington, D.C. or Baltimore in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette during his 1824 tour of the United States. The ring belonged to Helena Bache Lispenard Nicholson (1800-45), a daughter of New York merchant Leonard Lispenard III (b. ca. 1743), who married Major Augustus A. Nicholson (1800-1855) in May 1821. The couple is believed to have attended the Lafayette ball given in Maryland in mid-October 1824. A notably extravagant event, the Maryland ball was covered in detail on October 16, 1824 in Niles Weekly Register. Nicholson family lore also suggests the ring contains a sample of both Lafayette's and George Washington's hair located under the faceted glass.

This suite of cut steel jewelry was worn to the celebrated 1824 ball honoring the Marquis de Lafayette. Six thousand New Yorkers attended the lavish ball at Castle Garden, including writer James Fenimore Cooper. He described the enchanting scene: "… the spectator stood in the midst of a thousand bright lights and animated faces, under a variegated cloud of national colors . . . From the galleries, it is not exceeding the admitted use of terms to say that the sight was magical."

This mourning bracelet memorializes Mary Elizabeth Morris (1808-1851, née Babcock), the wife of William Lewis Morris (1804-1864). Mary died on July 10, 1851 at the age of 43, and the bracelet was probably made with her hair as a keepsake for one of her four daughters: Margaret Antoinette (b. 1830), Frances (b. 1832), Susan Arden (b. 1837), or Mary Elizabeth (b. 1849).

This necklace was purchased by the donor in New York City in 1955 to match the blue travel suit she wore on her honeymoon.

Micromosaic jewelry like this demi-parure set, depicting Roman structures and ruins, was popular in America during the nineteenth century when the "grand tour" of Europe was common.

Micromosaic jewelry like this demi-parure set, depicting Roman structures and ruins, was popular in America during the nineteenth century when the "grand tour" of Europe was common.

Another Mother for Peace was a women's peace group born from the antipathy to the war in Vietnam. The stated purpose of this non-partison, non-profit organization was "to educate women to take an active role in eliminating war as a means of solving disputes between nations, people and ideologies." The AMP logo, "War is not healthy for children or other living things", created by Lorraine Schneider, was prominent on its educational material and on medallions, peace notes, and greeting cards.