Some of us collect books. Some of us collect newspapers, postcards, magazines and ephemera, all in connection with a love of early “truth” history. But an added dimension for those with the contacts – and the house space – is collecting furniture.
This is the brief story
of Pastor Russell’s chair.
The familiar photograph
of CTR in his study at the Bible House shows him sitting at his desk in a high
padded chair. When everything moved from Allegheny to Brooklyn in 1909, a
number of items were passed on to others. This appears to have been the case
with the chair.
For many years the custodian of the chair was Martin C Mitchell. Mitchell was born in 1895. He may have worked at the Bible House in his early teens. We know he was immersed in 1910 at the age of 15. During World War 1 he claimed exemption as a conscientious objector associated with the IBSA.
Mitchell lived until 1974, and after his wife died, the chair passed on to others. It now belongs to Brian K who took the following photographs and has given permission for me to reproduce them here. The condition reflects that many have wanted to try it out over the years!
Rotating the chair will make it raise or lower, much like a circular piano bench. It also reclines as well as swivels. The current owner got brave and sat in it and leaned back. However, not too far.
Nice article Jerome.
ReplyDeleteThis chair needs restoring to it’s former glory. But then again ... so do I.
I plan to have it restored by someone who works on archival materials, retaining as much of the original leather as possible and restoring the "tack-buttons" that were used to secure it to the wooden "base materials" of the chair.
DeleteDon't we all!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see that Russell's chair "survived".
ReplyDeleteA photo of Martin Mitchell is to see in the "Great Battle"-book on page 51
Thanks for pinpointing Martin Mitchell. I found a photo of him later in life at a reunion convention, but this one is a nice clear picture as a contemporary of CTR.
ReplyDeleteI may be one of the few along with Brian K who likes to collect theocratic-related chairs. I'd love to trade as I have a few .
ReplyDeleteNo thank you. As an archivist, I do not trade, buy or sell artifacts. I have been given many printed and photographic materials from Br. Russell's day. As per my "Memorandum of Significant Bequests, I intend to give the chair, as well as my archive, away to someone(s) in the Bible Student community who will appreciate, treasure, and keep them.
ReplyDeleteThank you Brian. If I may ever prove myself to be honored to be that person in the Bible Student community who will appreciate, treasure, and keep them," I will be so privileged.
ReplyDeleteCTR on Luther's chair
ReplyDelete*** w87 9/15 p. 29 ***
In 1891 a group of Bible Students visited Luther’s former home in Wittenberg. “How vividly it brought to mind those stormy times,” one traveler reported. Among those who entered Luther’s “study and sat in his old chair” was Charles Taze Russell.
This is not an enviable subject (a compassionate subject), but the excerpt is about a chair and a specific chair as well:
ReplyDelete„For fifty years he suffered constantly with sick headaches, due to a fall in his youth, and for twenty-five years had such distressing hemorrhoids that it was impossible for him to rest in the easiest chair;” (The Finished Mystery1917 s. 57)
Another CTR chair is shown in this publication:
ReplyDelete*** jv chap. 5 p. 53 ***
[Picture on page 53]
When he gave public lectures, Brother Russell did not use any notes, and he was always on the move—gesturing with his arms and stepping about the platform