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.

This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1970. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The thermos bottle is decorated with various Dr.
Description (Brief)
This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1970. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The thermos bottle is decorated with various Dr. Seuss cartoons, including the Cat in the Hat.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.05.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.05.02
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1968. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1968. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The bottle is decorated with blue and gray with cartoon images of the The Flying Nun, a show that ran from 1967-1970 on ABC and starred Sally Fields as Sister Bertrille.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1968
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.06.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.06.02
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1978. It has a screw-on orange cup lid with handle and screw-on beige plastic stopper. The bottle is ringed with images of disco dancers.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1978. It has a screw-on orange cup lid with handle and screw-on beige plastic stopper. The bottle is ringed with images of disco dancers.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.04.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.04.02
This metal thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1964. The bottle has a red plastic cup lid with handle. The thermos features artwork from the television show Fireball XL5.
Description (Brief)
This metal thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1964. The bottle has a red plastic cup lid with handle. The thermos features artwork from the television show Fireball XL5. Fireball XL5 was filmed using Supermarionation, a combination of animation and puppetry that was made famous by the show’s creators, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Fireball XL5 was another show that took advantage of the public’s fascination with space, as does this thermos, with its various images of rockets and space ships.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1964
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.13.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.13.02
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1967. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This steel, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1967. It has a screw-on white plastic cup lid with handle and screw-on white plastic stopper. The thermos has a lavender background, with images of Twiggy modeling various outfits around the exterior.
Location
Currently on loan
Date made
1967
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.25.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.25.02
This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1978, and is the companion bottle to the lunch box with object number 2001.3100.15.01. The bottle has a screw-on, white plastic cup lid and a white and red plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1978, and is the companion bottle to the lunch box with object number 2001.3100.15.01. The bottle has a screw-on, white plastic cup lid and a white and red plastic stopper. The bottle is blue and has a picture of a dog and a cat nuzzling on the front of the thermos.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.15.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.15.02
This plain worker's metal and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1949. It has a screw-on dark brown plastic cup, a cork stopper, and is painted dark green. The label reads “HY-LO Hot or Cold, The ‘All American’ Vacuum Bottle.”Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plain worker's metal and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1949. It has a screw-on dark brown plastic cup, a cork stopper, and is painted dark green. The label reads “HY-LO Hot or Cold, The ‘All American’ Vacuum Bottle.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1949
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.32
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.32
This silver-plated, glass lined, half-pint thermos bottle with was made by Thermos in 1917. It has a screw-on cup lid with a folding wire handle, and a cork stopper.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This silver-plated, glass lined, half-pint thermos bottle with was made by Thermos in 1917. It has a screw-on cup lid with a folding wire handle, and a cork stopper.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1916
maker
American Thermos Bottle Company
ID Number
2004.3009.16.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.16.02
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1963, and is the companion bottle to lunch box object number 2001.3100.13.01. It has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a red and tan, screw-on plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1963, and is the companion bottle to lunch box object number 2001.3100.13.01. It has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a red and tan, screw-on plastic stopper. The bottle features scenes of the Mercury space mission, with the rockets blast-off, orbit, and atmospheric re-entry.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1963
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.13.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.13.02
This yellow plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1985. It has a beige screw-on plastic cup lid with handle, and a screw-on plastic stopper with a yellow hinged pouring spout.
Description (Brief)
This yellow plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1985. It has a beige screw-on plastic cup lid with handle, and a screw-on plastic stopper with a yellow hinged pouring spout. The thermos features is a colorful cartoon image of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Woodstock of the Peanuts comic strip on the front.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1985
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.02.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.02.02
This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1959. The thermos has a red plastic cup lid, red plastic stopper and glass liner. The bottle is decorated with Looney Tunes characters identified with their names throughout.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1959. The thermos has a red plastic cup lid, red plastic stopper and glass liner. The bottle is decorated with Looney Tunes characters identified with their names throughout.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1959
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.05.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.05.02
This metal, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1973. It has a screw-on red cup lid and screw-on red stopper. The thermos is a replica of the red and white Campbell's Tomato soup can design.
Description (Brief)
This metal, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1973. It has a screw-on red cup lid and screw-on red stopper. The thermos is a replica of the red and white Campbell's Tomato soup can design. This thermos accompanies Aladdin's pop art bread loaf dome lunch box, object number 2001.3101.16. Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Can paintings, created in 1962, had permeated popular culture at this point, and this thermos may be a take on those paintings.
Date made
1973
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.34
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.34
This metal, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1954, and is the companion bottle to lunch box object number 2001.3100.14.01.The bottle has a red, screw-on plastic lid and a red plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This metal, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1954, and is the companion bottle to lunch box object number 2001.3100.14.01.The bottle has a red, screw-on plastic lid and a red plastic stopper. The bottle has a yellow design with colorful action drawings of Roy Rogers riding on a horse on the sides of the thermos.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1954
depicted
Rogers, Roy
Evans, Dale
maker
Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.14.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.14.02
This metal thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1967. It has a red plastic lid and stopper. The bottle is decorated with colorful animated scenes depicting a lift off of a rocket, the orbit of a command module, and the re-entry of the module into the atmosphere.
Description (Brief)
This metal thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1967. It has a red plastic lid and stopper. The bottle is decorated with colorful animated scenes depicting a lift off of a rocket, the orbit of a command module, and the re-entry of the module into the atmosphere. Instead of creating a new thermos to go along with the Lost in Space box, Thermos re-used the imagery from the Orbit thermos, object number 2001.3100.13.02.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.19.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.19.02
This metal, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1958. It has a screw-on peach plastic cup with handle and red plastic stopper. The thermos has a peach and beige faux basket weave pattern.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This metal, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1958. It has a screw-on peach plastic cup with handle and red plastic stopper. The thermos has a peach and beige faux basket weave pattern.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1958
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.19.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.19.02
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1977. It has a yellow screw-on plastic cup with handle and a white screw-on plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1977. It has a yellow screw-on plastic cup with handle and a white screw-on plastic stopper. The thermos is decorated with portraits of the four band members of Kiss, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss in their trademark face makeup.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1977
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.12.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.12.02
This metal and plastic thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1969. The lunch box features imagery from Diahann Carroll’s hit TV series, Julia which aired from 1968-1971 on NBC. Julia was applauded for its depiction of African-American life in a suburban setting.
Description (Brief)
This metal and plastic thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1969. The lunch box features imagery from Diahann Carroll’s hit TV series, Julia which aired from 1968-1971 on NBC. Julia was applauded for its depiction of African-American life in a suburban setting. The bottle is the companion piece to the Julia lunchbox, object number 2004.3009.30.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1969
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.30.02
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.30.02
This metal and plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in the 1960s. The box has a glass liner and a red plastic screw-on cup lid with handle and a red and beige plastic, screw-on stopper. The bottle has a red plaid design.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This metal and plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in the 1960s. The box has a glass liner and a red plastic screw-on cup lid with handle and a red and beige plastic, screw-on stopper. The bottle has a red plaid design.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.32
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.32
This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 19970. The botte has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and red plastic, screw-on stopper. Large white stars on a blue background and red and white vertical stripes around the sides evoke the American flag.
Description (Brief)
This plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 19970. The botte has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and red plastic, screw-on stopper. Large white stars on a blue background and red and white vertical stripes around the sides evoke the American flag. The bottle is a companion to the Stars and Stripes lunch box, object number 2001.3087.17.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970
maker
Aladdin Industries Incorporated
ID Number
2001.3087.17.02
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.17.02
This tin, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1965. It has a black, screw-on plastic cup lid. The bottle has a gray and tan design featuring Annie Oakley riding her horse and shooting behind her.
Description (Brief)
This tin, glass and plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1965. It has a black, screw-on plastic cup lid. The bottle has a gray and tan design featuring Annie Oakley riding her horse and shooting behind her. The bottle is the companion piece to lunch box #2001.3101.05.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1965
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2001.3101.05.02
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.05.02
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1993. It has a screw-on dark blue cup lid with handle, and screw-on beige stopper. The thermos is blue and white with cartoon images of the Genie from Disney’s Aladdin.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1993. It has a screw-on dark blue cup lid with handle, and screw-on beige stopper. The thermos is blue and white with cartoon images of the Genie from Disney’s Aladdin.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1993
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.27.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.27.02
This thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1961, and is the companion piece to lunch box object number 2001.3100.11.01. The bottle is made of tin, plastic and glass and has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a screw-on red and tan plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1961, and is the companion piece to lunch box object number 2001.3100.11.01. The bottle is made of tin, plastic and glass and has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a screw-on red and tan plastic stopper. The bottle is yellow with drawings of cowboy clothing, equipment and firearms around the sides.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1961
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.11.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.11.02
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1977. It has a screw-on blue cup lid with handle and screw-on beige stopper. The bottle is blue-green with action images of Wonder Woman.
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1977. It has a screw-on blue cup lid with handle and screw-on beige stopper. The bottle is blue-green with action images of Wonder Woman. The bottle is the companion piece to the lunch box object number 2003.3070.26.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1977
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.26.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.26.02
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1991. It has a screw-on red cup lid with handle and screw-on beige plastic stopper with hinged pouring spout. The bottle is a cream color with silhouettes of Steve Urkel in various poses on the exterior.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1991. It has a screw-on red cup lid with handle and screw-on beige plastic stopper with hinged pouring spout. The bottle is a cream color with silhouettes of Steve Urkel in various poses on the exterior.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1991
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.28.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.28.02

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