Family & Social Life

Donations to the Museum have preserved irreplaceable evidence about generations of ordinary Americans. Objects from the Copp household of Stonington, Connecticut, include many items used by a single family from 1740 to 1850. Other donations have brought treasured family artifacts from jewelry to prom gowns. These gifts and many others are all part of the Museum's family and social life collections.

Children's books and Sunday school lessons, tea sets and family portraits also mark the connections between members of a family and between families and the larger society. Prints, advertisements, and artifacts offer nostalgic or idealized images of family life and society in times past. And the collections include a few modern conveniences that have had profound effects on American families and social life, such as televisions, video games, and personal computers.

Telegraph message, printed in Morse code, transcribed and signed by Samuel F. B. Morse.
Description
Telegraph message, printed in Morse code, transcribed and signed by Samuel F. B. Morse. This message was transmitted from Baltimore, Maryland, to Washington, D.C., over the nation's first long-distance telegraph line.
In 1843, Congress allocated $30,000 for Morse (1791-1872) to build an electric telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore. Morse and his partner, Alfred Vail (1807-1859), completed the forty-mile line in May 1844. For the first transmissions, they used a quotation from the Bible, Numbers 23:23: "What hath God wrought," suggested by Annie G. Ellsworth (1826-1900), daughter of Patent Commissioner Henry L. Ellsworth (1791-1858) who was present at the event on 24 May. Morse, in the Capitol, sent the message to Vail at the B&O Railroad's Pratt Street Station in Baltimore. Vail then sent a return message confirming the message he had received.
The original message transmitted by Morse from Washington to Baltimore, dated 24 May 1844, is in the collections of the Library of Congress. The original confirmation message from Vail to Morse is in the collections of the Connecticut Historical Society.
This tape, dated 25 May, is a personal souvenir transmitted by Vail in Baltimore to Morse in Washington the day following the inaugural transmissions. The handwriting on the tape is that of Morse himself. Found in Morse’s papers after his death the tape was donated to the Smithsonian in 1900 by his son Edward, where it has been displayed in many exhibitions.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1844-05-25
1844-05-24
associated date
1844-05-24
donated
1900-04-18
associated person
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese
maker
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese
ID Number
EM.001028
catalog number
001028
accession number
65555
This Peerless brand toy steam engines was manufactured around 1900. The overtype engine consists of a horizontal boiler with sight glass and lever safety valve. A slide valve engine powers a flywheel on top of the boiler. The engine sits on an iron frame.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This Peerless brand toy steam engines was manufactured around 1900. The overtype engine consists of a horizontal boiler with sight glass and lever safety valve. A slide valve engine powers a flywheel on top of the boiler. The engine sits on an iron frame.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329001
catalog number
329001
accession number
278175
The Weeden Model No. 34 toy steam engine was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1896 until 1940. This toy steam engine features a brass boiler with star cutout that is painted blue.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Model No. 34 toy steam engine was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1896 until 1940. This toy steam engine features a brass boiler with star cutout that is painted blue. The horizontal boiler, flywheel, and engine sit on an iron frame.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
MC.322912
catalog number
322912
accession number
220719
This Peerless brand toy steam engines was manufactured around 1900. The overtype engine consists of a horizontal boiler with sight glass and lever safety valve. A slide valve engine powers a flywheel on top of the boiler.
Description (Brief)
This Peerless brand toy steam engines was manufactured around 1900. The overtype engine consists of a horizontal boiler with sight glass and lever safety valve. A slide valve engine powers a flywheel on top of the boiler. The engine sits on an iron frame which is painted with red stripes.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329002
catalog number
329002
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Bassett-Lowke Company of Northampton, England during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Bassett-Lowke Company of Northampton, England during the early 20th century. The vertical slide valve engine consists of a firebox, vertical boiler, and chimney on a cast iron base.
Live steam toys enjoyed a period of popularity from the 1880s until the 1930s. The miniature steam engines were marketed as both toys and instructive devices that mimicked full-scale steam-powered machines and allowed every boy and girl to be their own engineer. In toy steam engines, a heating source is introduced into the firebox below the boiler (early toys used lit wicks fueled by denatured alcohol, later toys used electricity) which heated the water to produce the steam pressure that ran the engine. A variety of accessories could be powered by the engine; attachments included windmills, pumps, grinders, and electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.328940
catalog number
328940
accession number
278175
This toy electric engine was made by an unknown maker around 1900. The reciprocating engine has a 3.5-inch flywheel on a cast-iron base.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This toy electric engine was made by an unknown maker around 1900. The reciprocating engine has a 3.5-inch flywheel on a cast-iron base.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329035
catalog number
329035
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts during the early 20th century. This vertical engine has a tin firebox, brass boiler, and vertical slide valve engine.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts during the early 20th century. This vertical engine has a tin firebox, brass boiler, and vertical slide valve engine. The upper stack is homemade and was added to the original Weeden model at a later date.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
MC.328946
catalog number
328946
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was built by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany, during the late 19th or early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was built by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany, during the late 19th or early 20th century. The toy consists of a black firebox below a horizontal boiler that powers a horizontal slide valve engine that is connected to two flywheels.
Live steam toys enjoyed a period of popularity from the 1880s until the 1930s. The miniature steam engines were marketed as both toys and instructive devices that mimicked full-scale steam-powered machines and allowed every boy and girl to be their own engineer. In toy steam engines, a heating source is introduced into the firebox below the boiler (early toys used lit wicks fueled by denatured alcohol, later toys used electricity) which heated the water to produce the steam pressure that ran the engine. A variety of accessories could be powered by the engine; attachments included windmills, pumps, grinders, and electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329005
catalog number
329005
accession number
278175
This toy punch press was manufactured by an unknown maker during the early 20th century. The toy punch press was made of cast metal and could be powered by connecting its pulley directly to an engine or a line shaft.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This toy punch press was manufactured by an unknown maker during the early 20th century. The toy punch press was made of cast metal and could be powered by connecting its pulley directly to an engine or a line shaft.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329086
catalog number
329086
accession number
278175
Henry Essex of Buffalo, New York received patent number 723,660 in 1903 for this design of a caloric engine. The engine is a “hot air” or caloric engine, where heated air powers the piston before being cooled and returning to be heated, continuously producing work.
Description (Brief)
Henry Essex of Buffalo, New York received patent number 723,660 in 1903 for this design of a caloric engine. The engine is a “hot air” or caloric engine, where heated air powers the piston before being cooled and returning to be heated, continuously producing work. The engine consists of a flywheel at one end with displacing rod, a heating element in the center with two piston inside, and cool air pockets on either side of the center.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1903
ID Number
MC.329058
catalog number
329058
accession number
278175
This music book Folk-Dance Music was published by G. Schirmer in New York, New York in 1908.
Description

This music book Folk-Dance Music was published by G. Schirmer in New York, New York in 1908. Printed on the front of the music book:

FOLK-DANCE MUSIC
A COLLECTION OF
SEVENTY-SIX CHARACTERISTIC
DANCES OF THE PEOPLE OF
VARIOUS NATIONS
ADAPTED FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND
PLAYGROUNDS FOR PHYSICAL
EDUCATION AND PLAY.

Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1908
publisher
G. Schirmer, Inc.
ID Number
1986.0961.01
accession number
1986.0961
catalog number
1986.0961.01
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden “Favorite” engine from around 1880 until the middle of the 1890s. The vertical boiler powers a vertical engine, with built-in fuel tank for a self-contained burner.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden “Favorite” engine from around 1880 until the middle of the 1890s. The vertical boiler powers a vertical engine, with built-in fuel tank for a self-contained burner. The “Favorite” engine was sold alone or with attachments like a force pump or pile driver.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
MC.328955
catalog number
328955
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine consists of a vertical boiler and horizontal slide valve engine. The museum’s catalogue records indicate that the toy was manufactured in the late 19th century, possibly by the J.E.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine consists of a vertical boiler and horizontal slide valve engine. The museum’s catalogue records indicate that the toy was manufactured in the late 19th century, possibly by the J.E. Stevens Manufacturing Company or the Buckman Manufacturing Company, but no manufacturing marks can be seen on the object.
Live steam toys enjoyed a period of popularity from the 1880s until the 1930s. The miniature steam engines were marketed as both toys and instructive devices that mimicked full-scale steam-powered machines and allowed every boy and girl to be their own engineer. In toy steam engines, a heating source is introduced into the firebox below the boiler (early toys used lit wicks fueled by denatured alcohol, later toys used electricity) which heated the water to produce the steam pressure that ran the engine. A variety of accessories could be powered by the engine; attachments included windmills, pumps, grinders, and electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
MC.328981
catalog number
328981
accession number
278175
This toy stamp machine steam engine accessory was manufactured by the Hess Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. The toy could be connected to a steam engine or Hess’s Dynamobil friction-inertia motor as a power source.
Description (Brief)
This toy stamp machine steam engine accessory was manufactured by the Hess Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. The toy could be connected to a steam engine or Hess’s Dynamobil friction-inertia motor as a power source. The engine would rotate the central shaft, which rotated the two cams, lifting the hammers in succession.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329066
catalog number
329066
accession number
278175
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden No. 138 toy steam engine from 1915 until 1933. This Weeden no. 138 engine consists of a vertical steel boiler and walking beam engine mounted on grey wood, all on a steel base.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden No. 138 toy steam engine from 1915 until 1933. This Weeden no. 138 engine consists of a vertical steel boiler and walking beam engine mounted on grey wood, all on a steel base. This engine has been repainted with a red and gold color scheme.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.328952
catalog number
328952
accession number
278175
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts manufactured the Weeden model number 12 toy steam engine from 1890 until 1906. This toy steam engine features dual horizontal boilers and dual horizontal slide valve engines connected to a single flywheel.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts manufactured the Weeden model number 12 toy steam engine from 1890 until 1906. This toy steam engine features dual horizontal boilers and dual horizontal slide valve engines connected to a single flywheel. The dual engines are offset so one engine is pushing the flywheel at each time. A simulated brickwork metal firebox surrounds the two boilers, and the metal housing around the flywheel is made to look like brickwork as well. The entire engine is mounted on a metal plate.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
MC.328958
catalog number
328958
accession number
278175
The Weeden no. 102 electric generator was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1913 until 1918. This was an earlier version of the model No. 102, as evidenced by the wooden base plate attached to the cast iron base.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden no. 102 electric generator was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1913 until 1918. This was an earlier version of the model No. 102, as evidenced by the wooden base plate attached to the cast iron base. It is an electromagnetic generator, producing a direct electric current through the rotation of a wire coil in a magnetic field. The generator could be connected to the flywheel of a Weeden steam engine, rotating the center coil, turning mechanical power into electricity.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.322914
catalog number
322914
accession number
220719
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1894 until 1933.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1894 until 1933. The engine is Weeden model number 17, and consists of a vertical firebox and brass boiler on a tinplate base and a vertical engine with flywheel and flyball governor. Weeden’s Engine no. 17 was the first reversible engine, which would run in the opposite direction when the switch next to the engine was flipped. This engine is missing its sight glass.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
MC.328944
catalog number
328944
accession number
278175
This steam engine toy was made by Ernst Plank of Nuremburg, Germany, during the early 20th century. The toy consists of large boiler connected to a turbine with a steam line.Ernst Plank founded his company in Nuremburg, Germany in 1866.
Description (Brief)
This steam engine toy was made by Ernst Plank of Nuremburg, Germany, during the early 20th century. The toy consists of large boiler connected to a turbine with a steam line.
Ernst Plank founded his company in Nuremburg, Germany in 1866. The company was well known for manufacturing a variety of metal toys like steam locomotives, stationary steam engines, early photography equipment, and magic lanterns until its dissolution in 1935.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329049
catalog number
329049
accession number
278175
The Ernst Plank Company of Nuremberg, Germany manufactured this hot air engine around 1900. The engine is not a steam engine, as no water is heated. Instead the firebox heats air which expands and moves a piston to create useful mechanical work.
Description (Brief)
The Ernst Plank Company of Nuremberg, Germany manufactured this hot air engine around 1900. The engine is not a steam engine, as no water is heated. Instead the firebox heats air which expands and moves a piston to create useful mechanical work. The toy consists of a fire box to hear the air, with a piston powering a flywheel that is connected to a line shaft with three pulleys. The engine is very similar to the kind that ran the Praxinoscope toy made by Plank during the early 20th century.
Ernst Plank founded his company in Nuremburg, Germany in 1866. The company was well known for manufacturing a variety of metal toys like steam locomotives, stationary steam engines, early photography equipment, and magic lanterns until its dissolution in 1935.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329055
catalog number
329055
accession number
278175
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts produced the Weeden No. 7 toy steam engine from 1890 until 1907. The Weeden No. 7 is features a horizontal boiler over a simulated brickwork firebox.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts produced the Weeden No. 7 toy steam engine from 1890 until 1907. The Weeden No. 7 is features a horizontal boiler over a simulated brickwork firebox. The firebox holds a distinctive burner that has a small spouted fuel container with a fuel line that runs down to two wick holders. The horizontal engine is attached to a flywheel.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
MC.328957
catalog number
328957
accession number
278175
This toy electric motor was made by the H-K Electric Toy Company of Indianapolis, Indiana around 1906. The patents on this object refer to an electric toy that recreates mechanical motion.
Description (Brief)
This toy electric motor was made by the H-K Electric Toy Company of Indianapolis, Indiana around 1906. The patents on this object refer to an electric toy that recreates mechanical motion. A dry cell battery could fit in the center of the toy, energizing the electromagnets on the side, contracting its three lever-arms. When this contraction happens, the shaft rotates, and the protruding part of the shaft comes into contact with the metal prong causing the circuit that powered the electromagnet to break. This releases the lever-arms, which rotates the shaft as they rise, re-engaging the electromagnets and continuing the cycle. The weighted flywheel and staggered strength of the levers helped ensure that the drive shaft continued to rotate. The drive shaft could be connected to a variety of factory toys and provide them with a sense of realistic motion like their full size counterparts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1906
ID Number
MC.329034
catalog number
329034
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. The toy consists of dual horizontal boilers driving dual vertical oscillating engines that are connected to a single shaft moving two flywheels.
Ernst Plank founded his company in Nuremburg, Germany in 1866. The company was well known for manufacturing a variety of metal toys like steam locomotives, stationary steam engines, early photography equipment, and magic lanterns until its dissolution in 1935.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329010
catalog number
329010
accession number
278175
This folk fiddle was made in St. Mary's County, Maryland in the 19th century by an unknown maker. This fiddle and its accompanying bow are probably from the black slave cultural tradition of the American plantation.
Description
This folk fiddle was made in St. Mary's County, Maryland in the 19th century by an unknown maker. This fiddle and its accompanying bow are probably from the black slave cultural tradition of the American plantation. The instrument is made with a skin top nailed to a gourd body, and was recovered from an outbuilding of a large estate in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. This folk fiddle is made of a table of hide fastened with fifty-five iron nails to the gourd body which has two “slit” soundholes, neck of walnut with pegbox and four ash pegs, and a hardwood fingerboard and bone nut. The bow made for the fiddle is modeled after classical bow design.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
19th century
ID Number
MI.75.44
accession number
316462
catalog number
75.44

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