Engel den Hartog Collection, circa 1905-1914

Creator:: Elly den Hartog-Shea
Extent:: 1 Clamshell Box (10x15x3")
Language:: English
Preferred citation:: Engel den Hartog Collection, AARLCC Special Collections, Broward County Library.

Scope and content:: The Engel den Hartog Collection consists of 2 axes acquired by Captain Engel den Hartog during the period of his career from 1905 to 1914 sailing the Congo Basin for King Leopold of the former Belgian Congo. Both axes are 15.5 inches long from the top of the axe head to the base of the handle, and the handles are covered in hammered sheet metal held in place with small nails. Both axe heads are decorative. One axe head is decorated with two wrought iron twists and a single face on each side and measures 7.5 inches wide from the blade to the outer handle edge. The other axe head is decorated with a more intricate wrought iron pattern and two heads on each side and measures 9.5 inches wide from the blade of the handle to the outer handle edge.
Biographical / historical:: Engel den Hartog sailed for King Leopold of Belgium and captained several ships. He voyaged to the Belgian Congo several times, mapping the area around the Congo River Basin. Den Hartog acquired the axes in this collection on one of his voyages. In 1914 he died at sea from yellow fever. His descendants kept the axes in their possession until they donated them to the AARLCC Special Collections in 2021.
Processing information:: This collection received item level processing. This finding aid may be updated to reflect new descriptions as well as acquisitions to the collection.
Rules or conventions:: Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Preferred citation:: Engel den Hartog Collection, AARLCC Special Collections, Broward County Library.

Location of this collection:: AARLCC Special Collections

African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Broward County Library

2650 Sistrunk Boulevard

Fort Lauderdale

FL

33311

USA