University of Georgia Arch 9/11 Memorial collection

Descriptive Summary
Title: University of Georgia Arch 9/11 Memorial collection
Creator: University of Georgia
Inclusive Dates: 2001 September 11, 2002, 2004
Bulk Dates: 2001
Language(s): English
Extent: 20 Linear Feet (21 boxes)
Collection Number: UA0074
Repository: University of Georgia Archives

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2011, the Arch at the entrance to the University of Georgia became a spontaneous memorial for members of the University and Athens-area communities. Objects were deposited there between September 12 and September 21, when they were recovered and accessioneed by University Archives personnel. In-situ photography of the site also documented original placement and those items which could not be relocated.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 20 boxes of materials, including candles and candle-holders (largest component by volume), myriad original and copied textual materials, posters, photographs, flags, lanterns, license plates, ceramics, medallions, jewelry, small fabric arrays and perishable floral offerings. The floral and candle components were sampled, and inscriptions in-situ were photographed. Among the more significant items is a sketchbook turned into a book of inscriptions where passers-by could share their thoughts. The collection also includes smaller additions of materials left at the Arch on the first and second anniversaries of the event (2002 and 2003).

Organization and Arrangement

Organized into 3 series of year materials were collected from the Arch.

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

This collection marks the first time that University Archives has been confronted with the task of performing stewardship of a collection prior to actual accessioning the collection. The issues surrounding care of the materials at the original site at the UGA Arch and subsequent removal/recovery of items from that site were complicated because of the nature of the memorial, and the immediacy of the need which had spurred its creation in the first place.

Though the placement of items at the Arch in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11th was not chronicled with precision, it can safely be established that by the morning of Wednesday, September 12th, there were certainly artifacts in place there. By the weekend, the volume of materials at the Arch had increased substantially, and early the following week, the first questions surrounding the care of artifacts surfaced, as midweek rain threatened for the first time those items left at the site. Initial contacts with University administrators Richard Rose and Richard Mullendore led first to a visit to the site by UGA Archives staff with protective plastic sleeves on Wednesday, September 19th. Paper documents were placed in these sleeves, and continued discussions with UGA administrators led to the decision by President Michael Adams to leave the Arch site intact through a planned memorial service on Thursday evening, the 20th of September. It was further decided that the materials would be retired from the Arch site the following day, for reasons of campus safety (flowing wax from the memorial had created a pedestrian hazard) and preservation of the materials themselves. Thus it was that the artifacts were recovered on September 21, 2001 by UGA Archives and Physical Plant personnel, and were transferred to the custody of University Archives. Approximately 4 cubic feet of these artifacts were used in a display which occupied the lobby of the Ilah Dunlap Little Memorial Library from September 21-30, 2001.

There was an additional volume of melted wax recovered from the site by Physical Plant manager Dexter Adams (c. 10 lbs); this wax was to be held until a memorial candle could be crafted from this material.

Preferred Citation

University of Georgia Arch 9/11 Memorial collection, UA0074, University Archives, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

2001
box	folder
Request box
1	1	9 pages of inventory from the collection of artifacts left, 2001-2002
1	2	5 digital photos of the Arch, 2001-2002
1	3	59 sheets of paper (20 red, 19 white, 20 blue), 2001-2002
1	4	1 paper candle holder, 2001-2002
1	5	1 Summer 2001 edition Mission magazine, 2001-2002
1	6	2 sheets of paper (one yellow, one white) reading "Stop and Think", 2001-2002
1	7	4 sheets reading "The horrors that…" from the Revolutionary Communist Party, 2001-2002
1	8	9/20/01 Red and Black newspaper clipping reading "Arch memorial to be archived", 2001-2002
1	9	3 sheets of paper reading "As I am writing this…" (tells of the candles spelling "LOVE"), 2001-2002
1	10	8 sheets of paper reading "the University mourns, the University remembers", 2001-2002
1	11	2 boxes of slides of the arch (31 in one, 27 in the other), 2001-2002
1	12	2 compact discs of memorial (one with 40 digital images, the other with 2), 2001-2002
1	13	2 envelopes: (one beaded bracelet, one rosary; one Marine Corps Emblem, one scrap of paper with picture of cat crying, three red, white, and blue ribbons (2 smaller tied in knot; 1 in pin)), 2001-2002
1	14	working papers for 9/11/01 Arch memorial (ed. 8/14/02 AG), 2001-2002
box	folder
Request box
2	1	1 sheet of paper with wax reading "from the global friends", 2001
2	2	1 sheet of paper melted by wax to another sheet of paper (reading "Mercy Health Center") melted by wax to a plastic cover with red, white, and blue ribbons melted by wax to it, 2001
2	3	1 page reading "As we enter this new struggle…", 2001
2	4	1 envelope reading "A prayer for the fallen…", 2001
2	5	1 page reading "I am sorry that your lives…", 2001
2	6	1 page reading "to America- I would like to tell a story…", 2001
2	7	1 photo of the World Trade Center towers taken 5/3/00, 2001
2	8	1 card reading "God Bless America", 2001
2	9	1 page reading "If you wonder what to pray,…", 2001
2	10	1 yellow folder with writing on all faces reading "Archive this…", 2001
2	11	1 page reading "In our sleep…" (RFK quoting Aeschylus)- by Christina Rust, 2001
2	12	1 page with the lyrics of U2's "Sunday, Bloody Sunday"- by Christina Rust, 2001
2	13	1 page covered with cling wrap reading "I just wanted to put…", 2001
2	14	1 page covered with cling wrap reading "Dear friends, it was…", 2001
2	15	1 picture of "Oracion a San Martin de Porres", 2001
2	16	1 page reading "La vie est si difficule!…", 2001
2	17	1 page reading "may the heads of all countries and races…", 2001
2	18	1 page reading "God bless our world, not just our nation- ESU", 2001
2	19	1 page reading "'On the Turning Away'…Pink Floyd", 2001
2	20	1 page reading "'City of Dreams'… The Talking Heads", 2001
2	21	1 page reading "United We Stand"- SGA flyer, 2001
2	22	1 page reading "Thou art God…", 2001
2	23	1 page reading "How can we allow such beautiful minds…", 2001
2	24	1 The Amazing Spider-man comic book, 2001
2	25	1 page reading "United we stand, you have our thoughts…", 2001
2	26	1 page reading "don't let the light go out…", 2001
box	folder
Request box
3	1	"Is the Bible True?" pamphlet, 2001
3	2	1 page reading "the Dalai Lama's letter to the President…", 2001
3	3	2 matchbooks- one DePalma's and the other Dave and Buster's, 2001
3	4	1 page reading "love and compassion for all…", 2001
3	5	5 pages reading "to him who conquers…", 2001
3	6	1 page reading "I am convinced that the universe…"- quotation by MLK, 2001
3	7	1 purple page with blurred blue writing, 2001
3	8	1 photo taken from the 114th floor of the WTC by Stephen Bazzell, 2001
3	9	3 pages reading "I hate that it takes a tragedy…", 2001
3	10	1 bookmark reading "a prayer of hope…", 2001
3	11	1 page reading "to the victims, brothers and sisters… God wins this one", 2001
3	12	1 page reading "on the morning of September 11th…", 2001
3	13	1 page reading "what is next to come…"- by Kevin Nicholson, 2001
3	14	1 page reading "in light of… 'No Man Is an Island…'", 2001
3	15	1 page reading "let the fameles of dead…"(sic), 2001
3	16	2 notecard sized American flags, 2001
3	17	1 card reading "to all those who lost…", 2001
3	18	1 page reading "Tim- Thank you for trying! Love, Mary Lou", 2001
3	19	1 page reading "although we can never…"- on back of SGA flyer, 2001
3	20	1 scrap of paper reading "IMAGINE", 2001
3	21	1 page in plastic cover reading "America We Are Sad!", 2001
3	22	1 page reading "Blessed be you, Lord… Blessing of St. Francis", 2001
3	23	1 page reading "and quaint little strip that runs from Union Square…", 2001
3	24	1 page reading "footsteps- Meredith Shafer…", 2001
3	25	1 Priority Mail envelope reading "keep it burning show unity", 2001
3	26	1 page reading "a candle here and there…", 2001
3	27	4 wax catcher/candle holder- 3 with writing, 2001
3	28	1 page reading "life is full of ups and downs…- Briana.", 2001
3	29	1 page reading "Dear Bin Laden, other cowards…", 2001
3	30	1 page reading "in the last few days,…", 2001
box	folder
Request box
4	1	1 page reading "give peace a chance… Karen, Leslie, Toni", 2001
4	2	1 page reading "violence only leads to more violence…", 2001
4	3	1 picture of "our Lady of Guadalupe…", 2001
4	4	1 photo of candles, 1 card and 1 page reading "as I am writing this… candles… 'love'…", 2001
4	5	1 page reading "imagine… nothing to kill…", 2001
4	6	1 page reading "a beginner's guide to meditation…", 2001
4	7	1 page reading "our prayers go out…"- by Mali Bucen, Leila Garz, and Callie, 2001
4	8	1 page with various notes reading "May God bless you…", 2001
4	9	2 notecards reading "look if someone wrote a play…"- by Canio, 2001
4	10	1 unopened envelope "to the victims of 9/11/01", 2001
4	11	1 page reading "No man is an island…- John Donne", 2001
4	12	1 page in plastic cover reading "be still and know that I am God…", 2001
4	13	6 brown paper bags (luminaries) with various writings, 2001
4	14	1 sketch notebook, spiral 8" x 11" 66 pages with entries concerning 9/11, 2001
4	15	1 framed American flag, with card reading "one nation,…" and a ribbon, 2001
box	folder
Request box
5	1	1, 5 1/2 in fluted light green candle, 2001
5	2	1, 4 1/2 in misshapen disc-like candle with blue and white pattern, 2001
5	3	1, 3 1/4 in orange candle, 2001
5	4	1, 2 7/8 in square purple candle, 2001
5	5	1, 2 3/4 in square red candle, 2001
5	6	1, 2 5/8 in fluted glass candle holder with ivory candle, 2001
5	7	1, 2 3/8 in horizontally ribbed glass candle holder with purple candle, 2001
5	8	1, 2 in glass candle holder with blue candle, 2001
5	9	1, 1 5/8 in blue candle with red and blue wax melted to it, 2001
5	10	1, 1 1/2 in tin candle holder with white candle, 2001
5	11	1, 1 1/2 in white candle, 2001
5	12	2, 1 1/2 in candles melted together (one red, one blue-green and spherical), 2001
5	13	1, 1 3/8 in spherical blue candle with white stars, 2001
5	14	1, 3 in paper candle holder/ wax catcher with writing, 2001
5	15	1, XL (2' x 2' 5") white tee shirt with writing "we will never forget September 11 2001", 2001
5	16	1, 3'x 1' 8 1/2" peach towel, 2001
5	17	6, multi-colored crate paper flowers on white pipe-cleaners, 2001
5	18	1, box of matches (1 1/2;"x 2"), 2001
5	19	1, American flag (10 3/4 in.), 2001
5	20	2, withered apples (one red, one green), 2001
box	folder
Request box
6	1	1, 6 1/2 in. American Century tin with ivory candle, 2001
6	2	1, 6 in. American flag candle, 2001
6	3	1, 3 3/8 in. tin can with red and white candles, 2001
6	4	1, 3 in. white ceramic candle holder with UGA bulldog on it, 2001
6	5	2, 2 5/8 in. candles (one white, one gold), 2001
6	6	1, 2 1/2 in. tin lid, 2001
6	7	1, 2 3/8 in. tall slender glass candle holder with white candle, 2001
6	8	1, 4 in. purple hexagon candle, 2001
6	9	3, ca. 2 in. star candle holders with candle (one red, one white, one blue), 2001
6	10	1, 1 5/8 in. glass bulb candle holder with white candle, 2001
6	11	2, 1 3/8 in. red candles (melted together), 2001
6	12	1, 1 in. silver candle, 2001
6	13	1, 1 in. blue candle holder with gold stars, 2001
6	14	2, paper candle holders/ wax catchers, 2001
6	15	1, oil lamp with globe (two separate pieces), 2001
6	16	1, American flag, 2001
6	17	1, box of matches, 2001
6	18	1, black marker, 2001
box	folder
Request box
7	1	1, 6 in. blue candle, 2001
7	2	6, 3 in. candles (2 red (of one, only 1/2 remains); 1 multi-colored with glitter; 1 spherical with dragonfly design; 1 square blue; candle; 1 square purple candle), 2001
7	3	1, 2 7/8 in. green candle, 2001
7	4	1, 2 5/8 in. ribbed blue candle, 2001
7	5	1, 2 5/8 in. glass jar with drawings and pink candle, 2001
7	6	1, 2 3/8 in. square glass candle holder with blue and white candle, 2001
7	7	1, 2 1/4 x 6 5/8 in. orange sun candle, 2001
7	8	2, 2 in. candles (one red, one purple), 2001
7	9	1, 1 7/8 in. multi-colored hexagon candle, 2001
7	10	1, 1 5/8 in. spherical purple candle, 2001
7	11	1, 1 1/2 in. white candle with an American flag on it, 2001
7	12	2, 1 1/2 in. tin candle holders with white candles, 2001
7	13	1, 1 1/2 in. yellow tin candle holder- crushed, 2001
7	14	3, 1 1/2 in. wax meltings (one part red, one part blue, one part white), 2001
7	15	1 in spherical candle with blue and white stripes, 2001
7	16	1 large red wax blob with ink pen melted into it, 2001
7	17	4, paper candle holders/wax catchers, 2001
7	18	2 magnolia cones, 2001
7	19	1 rock, 2001
box	folder
Request box
8	1	1, 2 3/4 in. tall plastic container with ivory candle, 2001
8	2	1, 2 1/2 in. glass candle holder with horizontal ribs with blue candle, 2001
8	3	1, 2 1/2 in. tall glass candle holder with ivory candle, 2001
8	4	1, 2 1/2 in. tall red glass candle holder with sunflower design and white candle, 2001
8	5	1, 2 1/2 in. glass candle holder with writing and white candle, 2001
8	6	2, 2 1/2 in. glass jars with white candles, 2001
8	7	1, 2 in. glass candle holder with grid texture and white candle, 2001
8	8	5, 1 7/8 in. glass candle holders (1 with red candle; 1 with grey candle; 2 bulb shaped with ivory candles; 1 bulb shaped with green candle), 2001
8	9	5, 2 3/8 in. glass candle holders with horizontal ribs (one purple, two blue, two white), 2001
8	10	1, 1 5/8 in. fluted glass candle holder with blue, ivory, and red candle, 2001
8	11	5, 1 1/2 in. fluted glass candle holders (one green, four ivory), 2001
box	folder
Request box
9	1	1, 4in coffee can with multi-colored candle, 2001
9	2	1, 3 7/8 in. textured glass candle holder with pink candle, 2001
9	3	5, 2 5/8 in. tall slender glass candle holders (1 "Virgen de Guadalupe"; 1 "Mater Immaculata Ora Pro Nobis"; 1 "Rose Guadalupana"; 1 "Virgen de San Juan"; 1 "Justo Juez"), 2001
9	4	4, 2 in. glass candle holders with white/ivory candles, 2001
9	5	1, 2 in. glass dodecagon candle holder with white candle, 2001
9	6	1, 2 in plastic cup with white candle, 2001
9	7	1, 2 in. glass Alpha Chi Omega candle holder with red and white candle, 2001
9	8	1, 2 in. glass jar with slanted fluting with white candle, 2001
9	9	1, 2 1/2 in. tin cup with white candle, 2001
9	10	2, 2 1/4 in. square candle holder (one with writing & purple candle, one with red/pink & white candle), 2001
9	11	2, 2 1/8 x 3 7/8 in. eye-shaped blue candles, 2001
9	12	2, 1 7/8 in. glass candle holders with white candles, 2001
9	13	1, 1 7/8 in. glass candle holder with pink and yellow candle, 2001
9	14	2, 1 7/8 in. plastic candle holders with white candles with red glitter stripes, 2001
9	15	1, 1 7/8 in. plastic candle holder with white candle, 2001
9	16	1, 1 7/8 in. plastic candle holder with red and blue vertical stripes and white candle, 2001
9	17	1, 1 3/4 in. glass flowerpot shaped candle holder with pink candle, 2001
9	18	1, 1 5/8 in. spherical uneven textured glass candle holder with white candle, 2001
9	19	1, 1 5/8 in. fluted glass candle holder with white candle, 2001
9	20	1, 1 5/8 in. bulb-like glass candle holder with white candle, 2001
9	21	1, 1 3/8 in. spherical glass candle holder with red/purple candle, 2001
9	22	brown box (3, 1 1/2 in. white candles in tins; 1, 1 1/2 in. purple candle in tin; 1, 1 1/2 in. white candle without tin; 1, 1 1/2 in. ivory candle in yellow tin; 1, 1 1/2 in. ivory candle in plastic tin; 2 empty books of matches (one from DePalma's, one from Aaron Bonding Company); 1 empty water bottle with multi-colored melted wax; 3 crushed 1 1/2 in. tin candleholders; 4 paper candle holders/ wax catchers (3 with candle); 1, 2 7/8 in. ivory candle; multi-colored wax pieces), 2001
9	23	grey box 2 (1, 1 1/2 in. white candle; white wax pieces (one with feather attached)), 2001
9	24	grey box 2 (1, 2 in. square blue candle; 1, 1 1/2 in. blue candle; blue and red wax pieces), 2001
box	folder
Request box
10	1	1, 6 in. white candle, 2001
10	2	3, 4 in. white candles (one is square), 2001
10	3	2, 3 1/4 in. yellowish/ivory candles (one with strawberries on it), 2001
10	4	20, 3 in. candles (2 are 1/2 green; 1 has writing on it; 7 are ivory; 1 is hexagon; rest are plain white), 2001
10	5	13, 2 3/4 in. candles (3 are ivory, the rest are white), 2001
10	6	9, 2 1/2 in. candles (2 are ivory, 3 are fluted, the rest are plain white), 2001
10	7	1, 2 in. white candle, 2001
10	8	1, 1 3/4 in. spherical candle, 2001
10	9	5, 1 1/2 in. candles (2 are ivory, the rest are plain white), 2001
10	10	1, 3/4 in. white candle, 2001
10	11	1, ca. 1 1/2 in. base spherical white candle, 2001
10	12	1, unmeasurable spherical candle with design, 2001
box	folder
Request box
11	1	1, 3 in. purple candle, 2001
11	2	2, 2 5/8 in. square purple candles, 2001
11	3	2, 2 3/4 in. fluted purple candles (one has 11/2 in. purple candle melted to it), 2001
11	4	5, 3 in. blue candles (one has white mixed with the blue), 2001
11	5	7, 2 3/4 in. blue candles, 2001
11	6	3, 1 5/8 in. spherical blue candles (one with horizontal ribs), 2001
11	7	1, 1 1/2 in. blue candle, 2001
11	8	1, 3 in. square green candle, 2001
11	9	1, 2 3/4 in. green candle, 2001
11	10	1, 2 in. green candle, 2001
11	11	1, 3 in. red candle, 2001
11	12	1, 2 7/8 in. red candle, 2001
11	13	11, 2 3/4 in. red candles (one with 1 1/2 in. pink candle melted to it), 2001
11	14	1, 2 3/4 in. square red candle, 2001
11	15	1 2 in. red candle, 2001
11	16	1, 1 1/2 in. red candle, 2001
11	17	1, 4 in. red candle, 2001
11	18	1, 2 7/8 in. pink candle, 2001
11	19	2, 3 in. grey candles, 2001
box	folder
Request box
12	1	2, 1'4" bunches (10 ea.) silk roses (one red, one white), 2001
12	2	6, 2'1" bunches (3 ea.) silk magnolias (two red, two white, two blue), 2001
12	3	1, 1'9" (2'3" in plastic wrap) bunch (12) real roses (one half red, one half white), 2001
12	4	1, 1'4" (1'8" in plastic wrap) single real red rose, 2001
12	5	1, 1'7" (1'9" in plastic wrap) bunch (9) real flowers (one red rose and 8 purple daisy-like flowers), 2001
12	6	1, 2'10" blue ribbon with red bow, 2001
12	7	2 boxes of assorted petal and leaves, 2001
box	folder
Request box
13	1	2, 19 x 12 3/4 in. sheets reading "September 11, 2001 We Mourn, we remember", 2001
13	2	1, 11 x 13 in. sheet reading "the only answer is peace…"- by Kevin Nicholson, 2001
13	3	1 full size American flag, 2001
13	4	1, 11 x 17 in. newspaper photocopy of article concerning Sandy Bradshaw, 2001
13	5	1, 14 1/4 x 24 in. cardboard sign reading "sit for peace", 2001
13	6	1, 18x 12 in. board with photo of ruins and 1 page reading "an open letter…", 2001
13	7	1, 2 1/8 in. glass candle holder with San Martin de Porres on it with an American flag in it, 2001
13	8	5, 21 3/4 x 28 in. posters (1- yellow with Star of David reading "Jews 1944, Afghan 2001?"; 1- blue with "go USA" with various other notes; 1- yellow with "[word in Hebrew or Arabic] Peace in the new year"; 1- pink with "love and prayers to NYC and DC 5762"; 1- purple with various notes), 2001
box	folder
Request box
14	1	1, 2 3/4 in. glass candle holder with no candle, 2001
14	2	1, 2 1/2 in. tall glass candle holder with pink candle (in two pieces), 2001
14	3	2, 2 1/8 in. bulb-like glass candle holders with red candles, 2001
14	4	1, 1 5/8 in. fluted glass candle holder with green candle, 2001
14	5	1, 1 1/2 in. bulb-like glass candle holder with white candle, 2001

 

2002
box	folder
Request box
16	1	1, 4" x 6" color photograph of Arch Memorial, c. 9/13/01 (scorched), 2002
16	2	1, 2.25" square glass candle holder w/red candle, 2002
16	3	1, 2.5" blue and white striped candle (square), 2002
16	4	3, white tea candles, 2002
16	5	1, white tea candle w/ American Flag (4" x 6") embedded, 2002
16	6	1, red candle 3" round, 2002
16	7	1, blue candle 3" round, 2002
16	8	1, teal candle 3" round, 2002
16	9	1, small box wax fragments, 2002
16	10	1 CD 9/11 Memorial at Arch Images scanned from slides, 2002
box	folder
Request box
17	1	Originally a single artifact of melted wax with embedded objects, this item broke into ten pieces when recovered. Embedded items include a patriotic license plate (5.5' x 11"), two white round candles, one white and pink striped candle and a small red oblate candle. The majority of the melted wax is purple, and the artifact includes four embedded autumn leaves., 2002
box	folder
Request box
18	1	1, silver candle holder, w/cover, 2" x 2.5", 2002
18	2	1, cast-silver votive candle screen, cast from the surface of the original Arch Memorial candle, using wax from that candle in a "lost wax" casting process. Created in memory of the victims of September 11 by Barbara Mann and students in her Advanced Jewelry and Metalwork Class at the Lamar Dodd School of Art: Beth Cyr, Roger Bowersox, Amy Conrad, Gretchen Born, Andrew Pallos, and Stephanie Cowan. The openings in the casting represent the WTC towers, the Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania where Flight 93 came to rest, 2002
box	folder
Request box
19	1	9/11 Memorial Candle: This candle was fabricated by employees of the University of Georgia Physical Plant from melted wax recovered on 9/21/01 from the original memorial site at the Arch. It is composed of three conjoined candles, each 3" (one red, one white, and one blue). The assemblage rests on a circular silver tray. It was lit during the commemoration exercises at the Main Library on 9/11/02 and again for the memorial activities at the University Chapel on 9/11/03, 2002
box	folder
Request box
20	1	"No!" A sculpture in glass and wood by Robert Ketch, of the University Georgia glassworks shop. This was Mr. Ketch's salute to the passengers of Flight 93 who acted to bring the plane to the ground in rural Pensylvania, thwarting the plans of the terrorists to take the aircraft into Washington DC. It is composed of a finely modeled glass hand grasping the jet aircraft; this glasswork is set into a wooden base which delineated the continental United States, and is joined to the base at the approximate landing site in Pennsylvania. This sculpture was displayed at 9/11 memorial exercises at UGA in 2002 and 2003

 

2004
box	folder
Request box
21	1	3, 2.5" x 2.5" circular glass candle holders (1 ea. red, white, and blue candles), 2004
21	2	1, religious tract: Pocket Bible
21	3	1, religious tract: "How to know I am going to Heaven!"
21	4	1, religious tract: Here's Hope"