Description: This piece of metal jewelry is shaped like a ribbon with a buckle closure.
Historical Note: Former First Lady Sarah Childress Polk wore mourning clothes from the time of her husband's death in 1849 until the end of her life. Upon James K. Polk's retirement to Nashville, the former President and his wife had moved into Polk Place, a prominent residence in the vicinity of Capitol Hill in downtown Nashville. After Polk's death, his widow Sarah remained in Nashville. As the gracious hostess of the formerly grand Polk Place, she was honored by visits from officers on both sides of the conflict. This fancy brooch was a piece of Sarah Polk's jewelry.
Institution: James K. Polk Ancestral Home
Publisher: Digital Initiatives, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University
Rights: Images reproduced on this website are intended for individual, educational use only. For research inquiries about specific objects or requests for high resolution images, contact the James K. Polk Ancestral Home.
