A Short History: General John Logan, from the Histories of Generals series (N114) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Smoking and Chewing Tobacco 1888

Editor: This small print from 1888, "A Short History: General John Logan," was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their tobacco products. It features a portrait of Logan alongside nationalistic symbols. It has a distinct nostalgic aura. How do you interpret the symbolism in this piece? Curator: It's interesting to consider this print as more than just an advertisement. Think about the context: post-Reconstruction America. Logan, a Civil War general and later a senator, represents a particular vision of American identity. What does it mean to pair his image with symbols like the eagle perched upon an American flag, especially when these were circulated by a company profiting from tobacco, a product often linked to exploited labor? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. The tobacco industry's reliance on exploited labor certainly complicates the patriotic imagery. Curator: Exactly. This piece highlights how intertwined national identity, commerce, and power structures were, and arguably still are. Consider how visual culture, even something seemingly trivial like a tobacco card, can contribute to complex social and political narratives. Do you think it romanticizes the general? Editor: Maybe a little. I mean, he’s presented heroically. But now I wonder how this kind of imagery shapes our understanding of history and who gets remembered as a "hero." Curator: Precisely! It invites us to question the very construction of historical narratives. Advertising like this wasn't just selling tobacco; it was selling a particular version of America. Editor: That's fascinating. I’ll never look at historical advertisements the same way again. Curator: That's the goal: seeing beyond the surface. These objects can unlock rich insights into the cultural and political currents of their time.