Ornament, Christmas Tree
Object number2011.82.5 a-f
Date1920-1987
Mediumwood; ceramic; plastic; paper; paint
Credit LineGift of FISA Foundation
DescriptionFive Christmas tree ornaments including a bell-shaped ornament, brass snowflake, bear figurine, goose figurine, and mouse figurine with detached drum.Dimensions(a) H: 3.25 ; W: 3.125 ; D: .5(b) H: 3 ; W: 2.875
(c) H: 4 ; W: 3.25 ; D: .875
(d) H: 3.25 ; W: 2.5 ; D: .375
(e) H: 3 ; W: 2.25 ; D: 2.125
(f) H: .5 ; W: .75
Inscriptions(a)
Inside that area is a folded gift tag, "From: / [handwritten in blue ink] BETH M. WARRICK".
Paper tag attached with blue ink: "1984".
(b)
Front of paper card has gold print, "MERRY / CHRISTMAS".
Handwriting inside card in red ink, "Adelaide Lanz Booth / Thurston / 1920".
(c)
Handwritten in red: obverse arm: "1987"; obverse leg: "Dee / Delaney"; reverse arm: "Stanbrook / Hall".
(d)
Handwritten in red on one side: "Logan Nelson- Science Hill".
(e)
Paper tag attached to tail, with purple ink handwriting, "Elino / Taylor / 84".
Historical NotesThese Christmas ornaments hung on the tree in the Harmarville Convalescent Home run by the Federation of Independent School Alumnae (FISA); the ornaments were made by members of FISA. The Federation of Girls’ School Societies (renamed the Federation of Independent School Alumnae in 1985) was a philanthropic group formed by Anne Burgwin Scully in 1911. Scully, a graduate of the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York had previously organized the Misses Masters School (Dobbs) Society of Pittsburgh to provide social services to poor women. Realizing that these efforts could be strengthened by forming a federation of like-minded school societies, Scully invited Madelaine Laughlin Alexander (Mrs. Maitland Alexander), Louise Kay Ebbert (Mrs. George Singer Ebbert), Marjory Rea Laughlin (Mrs. H. Hughart Laughlin), and Miss Helen Blanche Rauh to join her in establishing the new organization. With its mission to improve the lives of working class women, the Federation opened the Harmarville Convalescent Home in 1913, twelve miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The first of its kind in the Pittsburgh area, the Home provided a place for women to recover following childbirth. In 1956, reacting to the changing needs of society, the Federation converted the Home into the Harmarville Rehabilitation Center and began focusing on rehabilitating those with disabilities. In 1996, the Federation decided to sell the HRC to a for-profit healthcare company. Today, the FISA Foundation continues to be involved in charitable work.
Related institution
Federation of Girls' School Societies
Related institution
Federation of Independent School Alumnae
Related institution
Harmarville Rehabilitation Center
Related person
Beth M. Warrick
Related person
Adelaide Lanz Booth Thurston
Related person
Dee Delaney
Related person
Elino Taylor
On View
Not on view
Hamilton Manufacturing Company
1984-1987
1934
L.E. Smith Glass Company
1984
