Family & Social Life - Overview
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.
"Family & Social Life - Overview" showing 376 items.
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IBM PCjr Personal Computer
- Description
- After the success of the IBM's business PC, IBM attempted to capture the home market with the IBM PCjr. The PCjr system was compact, low cost, and designed for applications related to learning, entertainment, and personal productivity.
- The computer had an Intel 8088 microprocessor that ran at 4.77 MHz–faster than most systems on the market at the time. It 64 KB of RAM, which could be expanded to 256 KB and later to 720 KB with third party add-ons. It featured an internal 5 1/4" floppy drive and a wireless keyboard. King's Context, a popular Adventure game of the 1980s, debuted on the PCjr.
- Despite a flashy debut and a strong technology core, the PCjr flopped in the market. Consumers were not as attracted by the IBM name as business had been. Price was a major factor. The PCjr cost about the same as the Coleco Adam, but for the price, the Adam included two tape drives, a printer, and software. The PCJr was twice as expensive as the Commodore 64. With the exception of the Apple II, it was possible to purchase a complete system (computer, disk drive, and printer) from almost any of IBM's competitors for less money. However, criticism of the system focused on the "chiclet" keyboard. Similar to that of a pocket calculator, the small keys were cheap and difficult to use for touch typing. IBM later replaced this with a wireless conventional-sized keyboard. But it could only be used two or three feet away from the machine and drained batteries quickly.
- Announced in November 1983 and available in March 1984, IBM sold the PCJr for $669 with 64 KB RAM, and $1,269 for 128 KB RAM. The more expensive system also included a floppy-disk drive. IBM discontinued the PCjr in March of 1985 after selling only approximately 270,000 units.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1983
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 2002.0090.01
- catalog number
- 2002.0090.01
- accession number
- 2002.0090
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Bobby and Betty's Trip to the New York World's Fair Game
- Description (Brief)
- Souvenir Game made by Parker Brothers commemorating the New York World's Fair 1939-1940.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1939-1940
- ID Number
- 1990.0542.1459
- accession number
- 1990.0542
- catalog number
- 1990.0542.1459
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
sound recording: (I Wonder Why) You're Just In Love; If
- Description (Brief)
- side 1: Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton. (I WONDER WHY) YOU'RE JUST IN LOVE; side 2: Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra. IF (Decca 27481)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- recording artist
- Middleton, Velma
- Armstrong, Louis
- Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra
- maker
- Decca
- ID Number
- 1978.0670.220
- accession number
- 1978.0670
- catalog number
- 1978.0670.220
- maker number
- 27481
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
sound recording: Bye and Bye; Whiffenpoof Song, The
- Description (Brief)
- Louis Armstrong with Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra. side 1: BYE AND BYE; side 2: THE WHIFFENPOOF SONG
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1954
- recording artist
- Armstrong, Louis
- Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra
- maker
- Decca
- ID Number
- 1978.0670.224
- accession number
- 1978.0670
- catalog number
- 1978.0670.224
- maker number
- 29153
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
sound recording: You're Driving Me Crazy; Sentimental Journey
- Description (Brief)
- Muggsy Spanier and his Orchestra. side 1: YOU'RE DRIVING ME CRAZY; side 2: SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY (Disc 6031). from the album, "Muggsy Spanier" (Disc 711)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- recording artist
- Muggsy Spanier and his Orchestra
- maker
- Disc
- ID Number
- 1978.0670.934
- accession number
- 1978.0670
- catalog number
- 1978.0670.934
- maker number
- 6031
- 711
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
sound recording: Pe Wee Squawks; Muggsy Special
- Description (Brief)
- Muggsy Spanier and his Orchestra. side 1: PE WEE SQUAWKS; side 2: MUGGSY SPECIAL (Disc 6032). from the album, "Muggsy Spanier" (Disc 711)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- recording artist
- Muggsy Spanier and his Orchestra
- maker
- Disc
- ID Number
- 1978.0670.935
- accession number
- 1978.0670
- catalog number
- 1978.0670.935
- maker number
- 6032
- 711
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
sound recording: Am I Blue; How Come You Do Me Like You Do
- Description (Brief)
- Muggsy Spanier and his Orchestra. side 1: AM I BLUE; side 2: HOW COME YOU DO ME LIKE YOU DO (Disc 6030). from the album, "Muggsy Spanier" (Disc 711)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- recording artist
- Muggsy Spanier and his Orchestra
- maker
- Disc
- ID Number
- 1978.0670.936
- accession number
- 1978.0670
- catalog number
- 1978.0670.936
- maker number
- 6030
- 711
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
sound recording: Speak French - Brochès Method
- Description (Brief)
- SPEAK FRENCH - BROCHÈS METHOD (parts 1 and 2). (Brochephone), with booklet.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Brochephone
- ID Number
- 1980.0339.12
- accession number
- 1980.0339
- catalog number
- 1980.0339.12
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
sound recording: Speak French - Brochès Method
- Description (Brief)
- SPEAK FRENCH - BROCHÈS METHOD (parts 3 and 4). (Brochephone), with booklet.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Brochephone
- ID Number
- 1980.0339.13
- accession number
- 1980.0339
- catalog number
- 1980.0339.13
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
sound recording: Graveyard Dream Blues; Weary Way Blues
- Description (Brief)
- Ida Cox. side 1: GRAVEYARD DREAM BLUES; side 2: WEARY WAY BLUES (Signature 907)
- 78 rpm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1923
- recording artist
- Cox, Ida
- Lovie Austin and her Blues Serenaders
- maker
- Signature
- ID Number
- 1988.0698.0751
- catalog number
- 1988.0698.0751
- accession number
- 1988.0698
- catalog number
- 1988.698.0751
- maker number
- 907
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center