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Henry was not the only
Thoreau to enjoy this
pastime; his sister Sophia
often joined him on walks
around Concord. Together,
they collected specimens that
Sophia later fashioned into
unique works of art, such
as a checkerboard onto
which Sophia affixed small
ferns, leaves, and spores from
varying plants (figure 9).
After Thoreau died in
1862 at the age of 44, Sophia
began inscribing poems on
leaves she had flattened and
dried in her flower press.
One example came from a
shagbark hickory tree. “It is
as a leaf which hangs over my
head in the path,” recorded
Henry in his journal; “I bend
the twig and write my prayers Figure 9: Checkerboard made by Sophia E. Thoreau, c.1860.
on it then letting it go the Th117, Gift of Miss Sarah (Sally) R. Bartlett (1965).
bough springs up and shows photo courtesy of the Concord Museum
the scrawl to heaven.” (figure
10) The poem on this specimen, written by Thoreau in 1837, refers to “Fair Haven,” a
place near the widening of the Sudbury River between Concord and Lincoln where
brother and sister had walked together. The poem’s ending reads: “And when I take my
last long rest,/And quiet sleep my grave in,/What kindlier covering for my breast,/Than
thy warm turf Fair Haven.”

“Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.”
Figure 8: Lygodium palmatum,
collected by Henry Thoreau. Henry David Thoreau’s impact is not only measured by his literary achievements,
photo courtesy of Harvard University Herbaria
but by the work he did to expand our knowledge about the natural world and human
life within it. Thoreau’s passion for collecting, and the varied objects he collected, made
him iconic not only within the Transcendentalist movement but also within the
budding fields of natural science, ecology and environmentalism. Not to mention, his
impressive collection of historical artifacts contributed to a local
antiquarian movement spearheaded by Concord Museum
founder Cummings E. Davis (1816-1896).
After Thoreau’s death, Cummings Davis continued to collect
artifacts that represented Thoreau’s life and interests, including
architectural fragments of Thoreau’s birthplace, his schoolboy
ruler, the pen he last wrote with, and the caned bedstead on
which he died. When Sophia Thoreau moved to Maine a decade
after her brother’s death, Davis purchased many items at the
Thoreau auction in 1873. Many other objects, purchased by
others at the auction, were subsequently given to the Museum.
Today, people continue to take inspiration from Henry
David Thoreau's life, work, and collecting. His philosophy
remains potent during these uncertain times: “Live in each season
as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and
resign yourself to the influence of the earth.”

About the Museum: The Concord Museum educates visitors of all ages about
the history of Concord and its continuing influence on American political,
literary and cultural life. The Museum’s nationally significant collection serves
as a catalyst for changing exhibitions, extended classroom learning, dynamic
programs, and publications relevant to an ever-changing world. Founded in
1886, the Museum is a center of cultural enjoyment for the region and a
gateway to the town of Concord for visitors from around the world.

Author bio: Erica Lome is the Decorative Arts Trust Curatorial Associate at
the Concord Museum. She holds a Ph.D. in History from the American
Civilization Program at the University of Delaware and a MA in Decorative
Arts, Design History, and Material Culture from the Bard Graduate Center.

photo behind text: Walden Pond, courtesy Erica Lome, Ph. D. Figure 10: Shagbark hickory leaf specimen inscribed by Sophia E. Thoreau,
October 13, 1868. GM340B, Gift of Mr. W.J.R. Taylor (1949).
photo courtesy of the Concord Museum

26 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles