Images(14)

Walking Stick

Date1870-1900

Attributed to Thomas Jefferson Craddock (1845 - 1918)

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Albemarle County

MediumWood

DimensionsOL. 36 7/8"; diam. at top: 1 3/8"

Credit LineGift of Alice Strouse in memory of her mother, Myra Westheimer Fensterwald

Object number2002.708.3

DescriptionA relief-carved walking stick bearing extensive inscriptions alluding to Thomas Jefferson. A carved ring or band near the top visually separates the head (graspable part) of the cane from the bulk of its length; the head includes motifs of Masonic emblems, a heart, and a foliage spray, all carved around the circumference. Other motifs are carved along the length of the cane and worked around the inscriptions. These are birds, a snake, a flag, a fish, a [sun?]flower, trees, several running or leaping animals that have tails, foliage sprays (or branches), and (possibly) a feather. All are crudely carved. Chip carving or cross hatching provides an overall background (and fills some of the pictorial motifs).

Label TextThomas Jefferson Craddock does not appear to have been a descendant or member of the immediate family of President Thomas Jefferson. Nonetheless, Craddock used the founding father as the subject of a sizeable body of walking sticks which he carved in the late 19th and early 20th century. The tradition of carving canes from wood cut on historic sites, particularly those associated with former presidents, was well established by the mid-nineteenth century. (See acc. no. 1984.708.1 for a cane dated 1847 made from wood taken from George Washington's birthplace). Canes such as these were sometimes given to family, friends or sold as souvenirs. Other, related types of walking sticks were made from wood harvested on Civil War battlefields.

As early as 1890, a newspaper noted Craddock as the “genius” carver from Albemarle, and that he “made a living by carving canes cut near the grave of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.” In the 1900 federal census for Scottville, Albemarle County, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson Craddock lists his occupation as cane maker. This self-identification, together with the many surviving walking sticks by his hand and the attention they received in the press, hint at the prolific scope of his creative, income generating activity. One obituary recalled that "his remarkable canes were noted far and near."

Thomas Jefferson Craddock was born in Albemarle County in August of 1845, the son of carpenter William Randolph Craddock. On April 1, 1863, Thomas enlisted in the Confederate army, serving as a private in the 5th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry until his injury in December of 1863 at Hamilton's Crossing. He remained active in local veteran groups for the remainder of his life.

InscribedRelief carved in block letters along the cane's length and covering much of its surface are the inscriptions transcribed below. No attempt has been made to designate the carver's line breaks, because the words follow wavy lines and are not conventionally grouped, making it unclear where certain phrases should be inserted and in what order the lines should be read. Also note that most words on the cane are grouped very closely together ("run on"); they have been separated for legibility in the following transcription:

"THOS. JEFERSON. [sic] OF VA. MONTICELLO BORN APR 13.1743. WAS PRESIDENT. USA. 1801. TO. 1809. WROTE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. FOUNDER OF UNIVERSITY OF VA 1819 JEFERSONS. [sic] DYING WORDS. I RESIGN. MY SPIRIT TO GOD MY DAUGHTER TO MY COUNTRY. DIED JULY 4. 1826 THIS CANE WAS CUT NEAR JEFFERSONS. [sic] TOMB".

ProvenancePer telephone conversation of November 20, 2002, AARFAM's donor inherited the cane from her mother, Mrs. Ralph Fensterwald (née Myra Westheimer)(1890-1969). Mrs. Fensterwald lived in Norfolk, Virginia, all her life. Mrs. Fensterwald acquired the cane [whether directly or indirectly is unclear] from "a relative" [n. 1] named Jonas Hecht. Hecht served as a "reader" (substitute for a Rabbi) at the Ohef Sholom Synagogue in Norfolk and, as a token of gratitude, the synagogue's congregation gave the cane to Hecht upon his retirement [n. 2]. Ms. Strouse does not know when or how the congregation obtained the cane.