It was on March 23, 1823, that Schuyler Colfax was born. To commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth, The History Museum is opening the exhibit Colfax: Speaker for Freedom. It will be on view permanently in Voyages Gallery.
Schuyler Colfax is undoubtedly the most notable political figure in the history of the St. Joseph River Valley. An ardent abolitionist, he is best known for his roles as Speaker of the House under President Abraham Lincoln and vice president under President Ulysses S. Grant. Colfax was instrumental in many political achievements, including the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States. Colfax was popular in his time, in demand across the country as a lecturer. His legacy lives on through the dozens of counties, cities, and streets named in his honor across the U.S.
Showcased in Colfax: Speaker for Freedom is the chair used by Schuyler Colfax when he was Speaker of the House during Lincoln’s administration. When Colfax left office, members of Congress made a gift of the chair to him. Colfax brought the chair back to his South Bend home. The chair was given to The History Museum in 1949.
The gown worn by Ellen Wade Colfax on March 4, 1869, at her husband’s inauguration as vice president can also be seen in the exhibit. Given to The History Museum by the Colfax family in the 1920s, the gown was on permanent display for years, due to its popularity. Around 1978, it was removed from display due to structural damage, a common and non-preventable issue with silks from the Victorian Era. In 1996, the gown was restored by Harold Mailand of Textile Conservation Services, Indianapolis.
Also on view is a gavel used in 1862 to call to order the first Confederate Congress in Richmond, Virginia. It was presented to Colfax at the seemingly wry suggestion of Abraham Lincoln, as the gavel would have been wielded by the Confederate Speaker of the House. It was likely acquired when Richmond was taken by Union forces in April 1865.The gavel was donated to The History Museum in 1949 by Schuyler Colfax’s granddaughter.
In addition to the exhibit, The History Museum is launching online access to the Colfax Collection. In October 2021, The History Museum initiated a project to digitize the vast number of photographs, documents, and artifacts related to Schuyler Colfax. Photographs and documents were scanned, and documents, including letters written by Colfax, were transcribed for the museum’s archives. Now completed, The History Museum’s Colfax Collection is one of the largest in the country. It will provide immeasurable research for individuals. The project was underwritten by two anonymous donors, friends of The History Museum. The Colfax digitization is part of a larger initiative undertaken by the museum, one that will also focus on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and local African American history.
