Family & Social Life

Bennet Family Record

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.

Name: King Seeley Thermos

The Brady Bunch Lunch Box

This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1970. The box has a hinged lid with one silver metal snap and a collapsible red, plastic handle.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1970. The box has a hinged lid with one silver metal snap and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The box features animated scenes of the The Brady Bunch, with the boys and girls each having a side of the box, and an image of their parents marriage with them on either side on the lid. The Brady Bunch ran from 1969-1974 on ABC, but ran in syndication from 1975 onward, becoming ingrained in American pop culture.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.28
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.28

The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1973. It has a white plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, yellow plastic handle.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1973. It has a white plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, yellow plastic handle. The box features colorful action scenes and portrait drawings from the cartoon series The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan on the lid, back and sides. The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan ran for one season on CBS in 1972. The show focused on Mr. Chan solving crimes around the world with the help of his ten children and dog.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1973
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.13.01
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.13.01

Disco Fever Thermos

This square plastic thermos bottle has a screw-on, blue plastic cup lid and a screw-on, white plastic stopper with movable yellow pouring spout.
Description (Brief)
This square plastic thermos bottle has a screw-on, blue plastic cup lid and a screw-on, white plastic stopper with movable yellow pouring spout. The bottle is the companion piece to object number 2001.3100.05.01, and features an image of the couple dancing and the text “Disco Fever.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1980
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.05.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.05.02

Wags and Whiskers Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1978. It has a yellow plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible yellow, plastic handle.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1978. It has a yellow plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible yellow, plastic handle. The lunch box features blue, white, yellow and green designs of colorful drawings of a dog and a cat playing together in cute ways.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.15.01
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.15.01

The Green Hornet Thermos

This tin, glass and plastic thermos bottle has a screw-on, white plastic cup lid and a beige and red, screw-on stopper. The bottle is the companion piece to object number 2001.3100.06.01.
Description (Brief)
This tin, glass and plastic thermos bottle has a screw-on, white plastic cup lid and a beige and red, screw-on stopper. The bottle is the companion piece to object number 2001.3100.06.01. The bottle features the same imagery from the front of the lunch box, showing an action scene from the The Green Hornet television show.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.06.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.06.02

Astro Space Dome Lunch Box

This domed, tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1960. The lunch box has two metal snaps for a hinged lid and a collapsible red plastic handle.
Description (Brief)
This domed, tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1960. The lunch box has two metal snaps for a hinged lid and a collapsible red plastic handle. The lunch box is covered with images of space scenes, including lunar exploration, satellites, and spaceships.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.20
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.20

Star Wars: A New Hope Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1977. The box has a red plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The box has art from the movie Star Wars.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1977. The box has a red plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The box has art from the movie Star Wars. The lid and sides are a starry black background, and the lid has an image of a TIE Fighter shooting at an X-Wing. The back shows Luke Skywalker, Ben Kenobi, and C3P0 in their landspeeder being stopped by storm troopers heading into Mos Eisley.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1977
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.18.01
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.18.01

Return of the Jedi

This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1983. The lunch box has a blue rim and animated scenes from the movie Star Wars: Return of the Jedi on all sides. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was released in 1983 as the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1983. The lunch box has a blue rim and animated scenes from the movie Star Wars: Return of the Jedi on all sides. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was released in 1983 as the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy. The box features images of the half-constructed Death Star, a Star Destroyer, and Darth Vader’s face on one side, while the reverse side has a picture of Luke Skywalker and a Gamorrean guard.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1983
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.10.01
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.10.01

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Thermos

This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1966. It has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid. The bottle is the companion piece to the lunch box with object number 2001.3100.12.01.
Description (Brief)
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was manufactured by Thermos in 1966. It has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid. The bottle is the companion piece to the lunch box with object number 2001.3100.12.01. The bottle has action drawings from the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., the art is the same as the front of its companion box.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1966
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.12.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.12.02

Julia Lunch Box

This metal lunch box 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.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box 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, and this lunch box is notable for being the first depiction of a black woman on a lunch box.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1969
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.30.01
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.30.01

Bobby Sherman Lunch Box

This metal lunchbox was manufactured by Thermos in 1972. The lunch box has a color photo illustration of Bobby Sherman on the front and a biography on the back. This lunch box is an interesting example of marketing a teenage heartthrob to young girls.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunchbox was manufactured by Thermos in 1972. The lunch box has a color photo illustration of Bobby Sherman on the front and a biography on the back. This lunch box is an interesting example of marketing a teenage heartthrob to young girls. The lunch box is covered with hearts, and Bobby’s vital stats are listed so his adoring fans could get to know him better.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1972
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.08
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.08

Snoopy Doghouse Thermos

This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1968. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red plastic, screw-on stopper. The thermos is a yellow doghouse with a colorful drawing of Snoopy from the cartoon series, Peanuts on the side.
Description (Brief)
This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1968. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red plastic, screw-on stopper. The thermos is a yellow doghouse with a colorful drawing of Snoopy from the cartoon series, Peanuts on the side. This is the companion bottle to lunch box #2001.3101.14.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1968
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.14.02
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.14.02

The Harlem Globetrotters Thermos

This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1971. It has a screw-on, blue plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1971. It has a screw-on, blue plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper. The thermos has a red and white striped design and colorful portrait drawings of the team members from The Harlem Globetrotters television show on the side of the thermos. The Harlem Globetrotters was a Hanna-Barbera cartoon that ran from 19770-1973, featuring the real players from the real team at that time, with their fictional manager Granny settling conflicts around the world with basketball games.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1971
depicted
Harlem Globetrotters
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.19
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.19

Fireball XL5 Lunch Box

This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1964. It features images from the television show Fireball XL5, which ran on NBC from 1963-1965.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1964. It features images from the television show Fireball XL5, which ran on NBC from 1963-1965. Fireball XL5 was filmed used Supermarionation, a combination of animation and puppetry that was made famous by the show’s creators, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Fireball XL5 was another television show that took advantage of the public’s fascination with space, as does this lunch box, with its various images of rockets and space ships.
Date made
1964
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.13.01
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.13.01

Star Trek: The Motion Picture Lunch Box

This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1979. The lunch box features cartoon images of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock on the front lid. The back shows the image of Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy inside the USS Enterprise.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1979. The lunch box features cartoon images of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock on the front lid. The back shows the image of Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy inside the USS Enterprise. Various show scenes along sides. White plastic handle and snap. This lunch box was based on Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the first Star Trek feature film released in 1979.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1979
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3099.08
nonaccession number
2001.3099
catalog number
2001.3099.08

National Football League Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by King Seeley Thermos in 1978. This National Football League lunchbox has a white plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible white, plastic handle.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by King Seeley Thermos in 1978. This National Football League lunchbox has a white plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible white, plastic handle. This NFL box features images of several football players, including Tony Dorsett, Franco Harris, and Pat Haden on a stylized background.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3087.23
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.23

Brave Eagle Lunch Box

This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1957. This lunch box features images from the television show Brave Eagle. The sides feature colorful depictions of Indians hunting buffalo and in combat with each other.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1957. This lunch box features images from the television show Brave Eagle. The sides feature colorful depictions of Indians hunting buffalo and in combat with each other. Brave Eagle was a short-lived TV series, airing one season in 1955-1956 on CBS. The show was notable because its main protagonist was Native American, and featured scenes of the West from the Native American point of view.
Date made
1957
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.06.01
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.06.01

Lawman Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1961. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The box features images from the television series Lawman, which ran from 1958-1962 on ABC.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1961. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The box features images from the television series Lawman, which ran from 1958-1962 on ABC. The show focused on the town of Laramie, Wyoming, and the action that happened around the Birdcage Saloon. Produced by Warner Brothers, The Lawman had several crossover episode with other Warner Brother westerns like The Maverick and Cheyenne.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1961
depicted
Russell, John
Brown, Peter
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.11.01
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.11.01

Hee Haw Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1970. The lunch box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The exterior features images from the country variety television show Hee Haw, on the lid, back and sides.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1970. The lunch box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible red, plastic handle. The exterior features images from the country variety television show Hee Haw, on the lid, back and sides. Hee Haw ran from 1969-1992, with the first two years on CBS, and the rest in syndication.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3099.04
nonaccession number
2001.3099
catalog number
2001.3099.04

Mork & Mindy Lunch Box

This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1980. It has a yellow plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, yellow plastic handle. The box is decorated with colorful animated scenes of the television show Mork & Mindy.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1980. It has a yellow plastic snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, yellow plastic handle. The box is decorated with colorful animated scenes of the television show Mork & Mindy. Mork & Mindy was a spinoff of Happy Days and helped launch Robin Williams to stardom. It ran from 1978-1982 on ABC and featured the adventures of the alien Mork living alongside a human companion Mindy, trying to learn the ways of humans.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1980
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.29
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.29

Get Smart Thermos

This thermos was manufactured by Thermos in 1966, as the companion to lunch box object number 2001.3100.03.02. The box features artwork from the television series Get Smart, and is a repetition of the image on the back of the lunch box.
Description (Brief)
This thermos was manufactured by Thermos in 1966, as the companion to lunch box object number 2001.3100.03.02. The box features artwork from the television series Get Smart, and is a repetition of the image on the back of the lunch box. Get Smart ran from 1965-1970, the first four years on NBC, and the last on CBS. It featured the adventures of Maxwell Smart as the bumbling Agent 86, and his female companion Agent 99.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1966
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.03.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.03.02

Auto-Race Lunch Box

This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1967. It has a hinged lid, with a button press closure, and a red plastic, collapsible hinged handle.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1967. It has a hinged lid, with a button press closure, and a red plastic, collapsible hinged handle. The lunch boxes features colorful action scenes of auto racing on the top and sides and a magnetic auto racing game on the bottom.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.21
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.21

Hee Haw Thermos

This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1970. It has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1970. It has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper. The bottle has a tan wooden background, and drawings of the two stars from the television show Hee Haw, Gordie Tapp and Don Harron, on the side of the thermos.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.20
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.20

Looney Tunes Lunch Box

This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1959. The front and back of the box is actually a styled as a television set, with Looney Tunes characters pictured inside the set.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1959. The front and back of the box is actually a styled as a television set, with Looney Tunes characters pictured inside the set. Looney Tunes were originally shorts that ran before feature films from 1930-1969, but have since been repackaged into a variety of television shows. Looney Tunes has given us some of cartoons most iconic characters, such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner.
Date made
1959
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.05.01
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.05.01

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