Gettysburg 75th Anniversary Souvenir Fan, 1938 Reunion, as in Gettysburg Museum

This is another nice item being offered, it is an original Souvenir Fan from the 75th Reunion of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the closed position it measures 7” x3” and when opened 7” x 12”. On one side it says, “Battle of Gettysburg / Pickets Charge July 3rd, 1863”, along with pictures of Meade’s Headquarters, Lincoln Speech Memorial and General Lee’s Headquarters. The overall picture is from the Cyclorama painting of Pickett’s Charge. The other side has maps of the First, Second, and Third-Days battles.

The 1938 Gettysburg reunion was an encampment of Civil War veterans on the Gettysburg Battlefield for the 75th anniversary of the battle. The gathering included approximately 25 veterans of the actual battle, with a further 1,359 Federal and 486 Confederate attendees out of the 8,000 living veterans of the war. The veterans averaged 94 years of age.

Transportation, quarters, and subsistence was federally funded for each veteran and their accompanying attendant. If an attendant was needed it was provided. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's July 3rd reunion address preceded the unveiling of the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. In my book “Battle of Gettysburg – The Relics, Artifacts & Souvenirs”, I go into more detail on this reunion.

This unique piece remains in very nice condition and easily opens. In the Gettysburg Visitors Center and Battlefield Museum, there is an example of this fan in the Reunion section (see pictures). This is a very nice Gettysburg souvenir piece being offered.