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.

Dave’s Dream, a modified 1969 Ford LTD, is a beloved example of Latino lowriders. Lowriding is a family and community activity with parades, trophies, and other events celebrating cars and paying homage to their power and beauty.
Description
Dave’s Dream, a modified 1969 Ford LTD, is a beloved example of Latino lowriders. Lowriding is a family and community activity with parades, trophies, and other events celebrating cars and paying homage to their power and beauty. Artistic paint schemes and custom upholstery make each lowrider unique. Hydraulic lifts enable lowriders to hop, making them seem alive and animated. David Jaramillo of Chimayo, New Mexico began customizing this car in the 1970s, but he was killed in an accident in another car. His family and local artisans completed the modifications that he had planned, and the car often won “first” or “best in show.”
date made
1969-1992
maker
Ford Motor Company
General Motors Corporation
Citizens of Chimayo, NM
ID Number
1990.0567.01
accession number
1990.0567
catalog number
1990.0567.01
serial number
9J62N178692
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 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
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1998. It has a screw-on purple cup lid with handle, and screw-on beige plastic stopper. The thermos has images from Disney’s Mulan, including the main character Mulan carrying a parasol.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1998. It has a screw-on purple cup lid with handle, and screw-on beige plastic stopper. The thermos has images from Disney’s Mulan, including the main character Mulan carrying a parasol.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1990s
date made
1998
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.29.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.29.02
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1996. It has a screw-on red cup lid with handle and screw-on beige stopper. The bottle is white with cartoon images of Pinky and the Brain from the cartoon series Pinky and the Brain.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin in 1996. It has a screw-on red cup lid with handle and screw-on beige stopper. The bottle is white with cartoon images of Pinky and the Brain from the cartoon series Pinky and the Brain.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1996
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.30.02
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.30.02
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Designed
1949
date made
c.1949
date produced
1945
associated dates
1992 06 02 / 1992 06 02, - / -
designer
Kogan, Belle
maker
United States Glass Company
ID Number
1992.0257.08
catalog number
1992.0257.08
accession number
1992.0257
This white plastic thermos was made by Thermos in the 1990s, and has a bottle with a screw-on, pink plastic cup lid and screw-on and a white plastic stopper. There are pink, white and yellow drawings of Barbie dolls on the sides.
Description (Brief)
This white plastic thermos was made by Thermos in the 1990s, and has a bottle with a screw-on, pink plastic cup lid and screw-on and a white plastic stopper. There are pink, white and yellow drawings of Barbie dolls on the sides. This bottle matches the Barbie lunch box, object #2001.3087.37.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1990s
maker
Thermos Company
ID Number
2001.3087.37.02
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.37.02
Equipped with a sports-car seat, go-cart wheels, and a top speed of eight miles an hour, this wheelchair belonged to disability-rights pioneer Ed Roberts. Roberts was paralyzed by polio in 1953, at age fourteen.
Description
Equipped with a sports-car seat, go-cart wheels, and a top speed of eight miles an hour, this wheelchair belonged to disability-rights pioneer Ed Roberts. Roberts was paralyzed by polio in 1953, at age fourteen. In 1962 he enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley, where he led efforts to establish a program for disabled students. He later founded the Independent Living Movement, a worldwide campaign to secure civil rights, equal access, and self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.
Ref: “Edward V. Roberts, Champion of the Disabled,” New York Times (March 16, 1995), p B13.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1996
associated dates
1966-1999-03
referenced
Independent Living Movement
University of California, Berkeley
user
Roberts, Edward V.
maker
Stanford Rehab Engineering
ID Number
1995.0179.01
catalog number
1995.0179.01
accession number
1995.0179
Various artists. LL Cool J Sampler CD (Def Jam (B)-566 473-2). Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring LL Cool J [James Todd Smith] on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. LL Cool J Sampler CD (Def Jam (B)-566 473-2). Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring LL Cool J [James Todd Smith] on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1999
depicted
L. L. Cool J.
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.45
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.45
Various artists. Method Man Sampler CD (Def Jam (A)-566 471-2). Compact disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring Method Man [Clifford M. Smith Jr.] on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. Method Man Sampler CD (Def Jam (A)-566 471-2). Compact disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring Method Man [Clifford M. Smith Jr.] on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1999
depicted
Method Man
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.46
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.46
Lifers Group. Short Life of a Gangsta (Hollywood HB-66307-0)33-1/3 rpm. 12" single.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Lifers Group. Short Life of a Gangsta (Hollywood HB-66307-0)
33-1/3 rpm. 12" single.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1993
recording artist
Lifers Group
maker
Hollywood Basic
ID Number
2006.0166.03
accession number
2006.0166
catalog number
2006.0166.03
Lifers Group. Lifers Group (Hollywood 61050)33-1/3 rpmCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Lifers Group. Lifers Group (Hollywood 61050)
33-1/3 rpm
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1990
recording artist
Lifers Group
maker
Hollywood Basic
ID Number
2006.0166.04
accession number
2006.0166
catalog number
2006.0166.04
Various artists. Public Enemy Sampler CD (Def Jam (B)-566 469-2). Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring Public Enemy on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. Public Enemy Sampler CD (Def Jam (B)-566 469-2). Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring Public Enemy on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1999
depicted
Public Enemy
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.48
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.48
Various artists. Redman Sampler CD (Def Jam (A)-566 469-2). Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam compact disc featuring Redman [Reginald "Reggie" Noble] on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. Redman Sampler CD (Def Jam (A)-566 469-2). Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam compact disc featuring Redman [Reginald "Reggie" Noble] on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1999
depicted
Redman
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.47
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.47
Various artists. DefEx Winter '96. Cassette.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. DefEx Winter '96. Cassette.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1996
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.24
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.24
Various artists. Foxy Brown Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/5). Cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring Foxy Brown on the cover. Foxy Brown is the stage name for Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. Foxy Brown Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/5). Cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring Foxy Brown on the cover. Foxy Brown is the stage name for Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1997
depicted
Brown, Foxy
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.39
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.39
Various artists. Redman Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/1).Cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring Redman [Reginald "Reggie" Noble] on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. Redman Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/1).
Cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring Redman [Reginald "Reggie" Noble] on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1997
depicted (sitter)
Redman
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.42
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.42
Various artists. Foxy Brown Sampler CD (Def Jam (A)-566 473-2)Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring Foxy Brown [Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand] on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. Foxy Brown Sampler CD (Def Jam (A)-566 473-2)
Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring Foxy Brown [Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand] on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1999
recording artist
Brown, Foxy
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.44
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.44
Various artists. EMPD Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/4).cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring EMPD [Erick and Parrish Making Dollars] on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. EMPD Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/4).
cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring EMPD [Erick and Parrish Making Dollars] on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1997
depicted
EPMD
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.38
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.38
Various artists. LL Cool J Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/3)Cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring LL Cool J [James Todd Smith] on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. LL Cool J Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/3)
Cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring LL Cool J [James Todd Smith] on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1997
depicted
L. L. Cool J.
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.40
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.40
Various artists. EPMD Sampler CD (Def Jam (B)-566 471-2)Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring EMPD [Erick and Parrish Making Dollars] on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. EPMD Sampler CD (Def Jam (B)-566 471-2)
Compact Disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring EMPD [Erick and Parrish Making Dollars] on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1999
depicted (sitter)
EPMD
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.43
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.43
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 1990-1995
ca 1990-1995
ID Number
2009.0177.01
accession number
2009.0177
catalog number
2009.0177.01
Various artists. Method Man Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/2). Cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring Method Man [Clifford M. Smith Jr.] on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. Method Man Sampler Tape (Def Jam DEF-191-4/2). Cassette format. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler tape featuring Method Man [Clifford M. Smith Jr.] on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1997
depicted
Method Man
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.41
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.41
Various artists. ONYX Sampler CD (Def Jam (B)-566 467-2). Compact disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring ONYX on the cover.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Various artists. ONYX Sampler CD (Def Jam (B)-566 467-2). Compact disc. This is a Collector's Edition Def Jam sampler compact disc featuring ONYX on the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1999
depicted
Onyx
maker
Def Jam
ID Number
2006.3087.49
nonaccession number
2006.3087
catalog number
2006.3087.49

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