Nightstick Collection

NAST: TWEED CARTOON. Wholesale and Retail. One of Thomas Nasts vitriolic attacks on William M. Boss Tweed and the Tweed Ring published shortly before the New York state

NYC: POLICE, 1859. The New York Metropolitan Police - A pictorial analysis of the report to the legislature. Engraving, 1859

Police officers dispersing the strike of employees of Streetcar in New York, March 4, 1886. Colored engraving

Infantry soldiers of the Belgian Army in riot gear during a training session in Leopoldsburg, Belgium

A training session in riot and crowd control by some units of the Belgian Army

Belgian Infantry soldiers training in crowd and riot control
Army Base Leopoldsburg, Belgium - Belgian Infantry soldiers training in crowd and riot control. The soldiers are dressed like riot police officers in full riot gear

Illustration of a Pachycephalosaurus police officer

Traffic cop in Washington D. C. circa 1918
Traffic cop in Washington D.C. circa 1918

CARTOON: CAMP MEETING, 1881. Modern Camp-Meetings - Guaranteed Perfectly Safe. Lithograph, American, 1881

FASHIONABLE PREACHER, 1884. Our Rampageous Preachers. Let them be put under the same restrictions as other sabbath-breakers. American lithograph cartoon by F. Graetz, 1884

OIL SPECULATION CARTOON. Gulltown in an Uproar. A frenzied crowd of speculators rushes to buy stock certificates in the Munchausen & Gull Creek Oil Copmany. American lithograph cartoon, 1865

Woman holding stick, posing in studio, (B&W), portrait

POLICE CARTOON, 1860. Mistaking an honest householder for a burglar. Cartoon from a New York City newspaper of 1860

POLICEMAN, 1891. A Chicago, Illinois, police officer. Photographed in 1891

POLICEMEN, 1909. The Sandusky, Ohio, police force in 1909

POLICEMAN, c1885. A New York policeman. Line engraving c1885

POLICE CORRUPTION CARTOON. An 1859 newspaper cartoon comment on the corruption and inefficiency of the New York City police

IMMIGRANTS: IRISH, c1885. An Irish immigrant patrolling a street in New York City following his appointment as a police officer. American cartoon, c1885

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"Nightstick: A Symbol of Authority and Control" In the late 19th century, the nightstick became an emblem of power as police officers used it to disperse striking employees on the streets of New York. On March 4, 1886, tensions ran high as streetcar workers protested for better working conditions. The scene was reminiscent of Thomas Nast's scathing political cartoons targeting William M. Tweed during the era of corruption in New York City. The nightstick represented not only physical force but also a means to restore order amidst chaos. It was wielded by members of the New York Metropolitan Police in their efforts to maintain peace and security in a rapidly growing city. This pictorial analysis showcases their presence on the streets, ready to confront any challenges that arose. Across the Atlantic, Belgian infantry soldiers underwent rigorous training sessions in riot and crowd control techniques using similar tools like nightsticks. These units prepared themselves for potential unrest within their nation or during international conflicts. Even dinosaurs were depicted wielding this symbol of authority. An illustration featuring a Pachycephalosaurus police officer highlights how deeply ingrained this image has become in our collective consciousness. Fast forward to circa 1918 when traffic cops patrolled Washington D. C. , directing vehicles with precision and ensuring smooth flow on bustling streets. From historical strikes to modern-day demonstrations, whether it be maintaining order or managing crowds, the nightstick remains an enduring symbol representing law enforcement's duty to protect society from turmoil while upholding justice and maintaining peace.