Call Number:

33

Repository:

The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute

Extent:

1.5 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

circa 1880-1920

Creator:

American Temperance Society

Abstract:

The American Temperance Society, also known as the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance, was established in 1826 in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the first formal national temperance movement in the United States. The American Temperance Society and other temperance movements would hold events and write literature warning people of the dangers of alcohol. American Temperance Society lantern slides, circa 1880-1920, consist of approximately ninety lantern slides, including slides that depict the sad stories of those who give in to the temptation of drinking alcohol, as well as slides of temperance related poems, sheet music, and cartoons. Many of the stories and other slides were intended to inspire guilt among those feeling tempted by alcohol.

The American Temperance Society, also known as the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance, was established in 1826 in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the first formal national temperance movement in the United States. Within ten years, there were more than 1.5 million people who had joined the group and taken a pledge to abstain from drinking distilled spirits. The organization initially did not call for abstention from drinking beer or wine, but gradually it promoted abstaining from all alcoholic beverages and eventually pushed for prohibition legislation at the federal level. The American Temperance Society and other temperance movements would hold events and write literature warning people of the dangers of alcohol. As photographic images became more popular, several temperance societies held lantern slide shows to get their points across.

In 1920, the United States Constitution's eighteenth amendment went into effect, prohibiting the production, transport, and sale of alcohol in the United States. The National Prohibition Act of 1919, known as the Volstead Act, outlined how to enforce the amendment. The amendment was repealed and the Volstead Act voided in 1933 by the ratification of the twenty-first amendment. An inventory is available on-site.

American Temperance Society lantern slides, circa 1880-1920, consist of approximately ninety lantern slides, including slides that depict the sad stories of those who give in to the temptation of drinking alcohol, as well as slides of temperance related poems, sheet music, and cartoons. Many of the stories and other slides were intended to inspire guilt among those feeling tempted by alcohol.

A majority of the slides illustrate various stories warning people about the dangers of drinking alcohol. There are nine stories depicted in this collection, including The Bottle, The Drunkard's Daughter, Where is My Boy Tonight, The Frolic, William Jackson's Treat, Drunkard's Stomach, Drunkard's Children, Ten Nights in a Bar Room, and the Trial of Sir Jasper. The number of slides for each story ranges between four and twenty-three slides. Additionally in the collection, there are slides with songs, poems, and cartoons, some of which are meant to inspire feelings of guilt among the tempted and some of which are meant to be uplifting and helpful to those who are struggling.