ITEM DESCRIPTION
Today we are pleased to offer this original 1878 Foxborough, Massachusetts Centennial invited guest card or pass, issued for the town's one-hundredth anniversary celebration held on June 29, 1878. The small horizontal card is printed in black on light card stock, with the dates 1778 and 1878 at the top, an oval portrait vignette at left, and the text "Foxborough's Centennial! Invited Guests. June 29 1878." at right. The lower right includes the printed facsimile signature of C. W. Hodges with "Treas." printed beside it.
The portrait at left is Charles James Fox, Foxborough's namesake. This is an important detail: the image is not a generic Revolutionary-era portrait, but a direct reference to the British Whig statesman and Member of Parliament for whom the town was named. Fox was remembered in Foxborough's centennial history for opposing British coercive policy toward the American colonies and for defending the colonial cause during the Revolutionary period.
Foxborough's 1778-1878 Centennial was a major civic celebration organized by the Town Centennial Committee to commemorate the one-hundredth anniversary of the town's incorporation. C. W. Hodges, whose name appears on this card, served as treasurer of the Centennial Executive Committee, tying this piece directly to the official organization and finances of the event.
The official centennial program called for a full day of public ceremony and local reunion, including a one-hundred-gun salute at sunrise and sunset, a procession from Town Hall, the unveiling of Memorial Rock, public exercises in a large tent, prayer, a welcome address, reading of the Act of Incorporation, music, a centennial address, an original poem, collation, toasts and responses, a grand reunion of families and old friends, and an evening illumination and promenade concert on the Common. The official invitation text also referred to guests showing their paper at the doors and being welcomed as invited guests of the town, making this small printed card an unusually evocative survivor of the guest and admission process for the celebration.
This is a desirable piece of 19th-century Massachusetts town history, combining Foxborough local history, Revolutionary memory, Charles James Fox iconography, Victorian civic celebration, and official centennial ephemera. It would display especially well with collections relating to Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts local history, New England genealogy, town centennials, municipal celebrations, Revolutionary War remembrance, Victorian printed cards, and early American commemorative paper.
The card is in good antique condition, with overall age toning, scattered foxing, light soiling, darker edge toning, small stains, minor surface rubbing, softened corners, and small edge nicks. The reverse is blank, with additional toning, smudging, stains, and handling marks. The printed portrait, lettering, decorative rules, and C. W. Hodges treasurer signature remain strong and readable. It will be mailed in the archival sleeve and rigid top-loader case.
Make sure to see the photos above for complete details.
Single card.
Measures approximately 3 1/4 inches tall by 5 1/4 inches wide.
KEYWORDS
1878 Foxborough Centennial, Foxborough's Centennial, Foxborough Centennial 1878, Foxboro Centennial, Foxborough Massachusetts, Foxboro Massachusetts, Foxborough MA, Foxboro MA, Norfolk County Massachusetts, Norfolk County history, 1778 1878, June 29 1878, invited guest card, invited guests, guest card, guest pass, admission card, admission pass, event credential, centennial pass, centennial invitation, town centennial, one hundredth anniversary, town anniversary, municipal celebration, civic celebration, local celebration, Massachusetts local history, New England local history, Foxborough local history, Foxboro local history, Victorian ephemera, Victorian card, 19th century ephemera, 19th century card, antique paper, historical memorabilia, cities and towns, Charles James Fox, Charles Fox, C J Fox, Fox portrait, town namesake, British Whig, British statesman, Member of Parliament, House of Commons, Boston Port Bill, American colonies, American independence, Revolutionary War memory, American Revolution, Revolutionary era, C W Hodges, C. W. Hodges, Charles W Hodges, Hodges treasurer, treasurer signature, printed signature, facsimile signature, Centennial Executive Committee, Town Centennial Committee, Town of Foxborough, official centennial, official celebration, Memorial Rock, Town Hall, procession, one hundred gun salute, centennial salute, grand reunion, family reunion, old friends, invited residents, former residents, native residents, Foxborough genealogy, Foxboro genealogy, Massachusetts genealogy, New England genealogy, historical society, paper collectible, antique invitation, printed invitation, illustrated card, portrait vignette, engraved portrait, blank reverse, original 1878, Americana, civic commemoration, commemorative card, town committee, Massachusetts antique, New England antique
