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.

Date: 1970s

Leche Fresca Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin in 1970. It has a metal snap for hinged lid and collapsible white plastic handle. The lunch box was made for sale in Mexico, and touts the benefits of fresh milk (leche fresca).
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin in 1970. It has a metal snap for hinged lid and collapsible white plastic handle. The lunch box was made for sale in Mexico, and touts the benefits of fresh milk (leche fresca). The box is blue and gray with cartoon images of cows and people.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970s
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.09.01
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.09.01

Blue Sky Boys

Beginning in 1936, brothers Earl (1919-1998) and Bill Bolick (b. 1917), known for their intricate melodies on guitar and mandolin, influenced many other duet performers.
Description
Beginning in 1936, brothers Earl (1919-1998) and Bill Bolick (b. 1917), known for their intricate melodies on guitar and mandolin, influenced many other duet performers. The Blue Sky Boys retired in 1951, but returned to performing in 1962, drawn by the rising interest in folk and traditional country music.
Location
Currently not on view
negative
1974
print
2003
maker
Horenstein, Henry
ID Number
2003.0169.002
accession number
2003.0169
catalog number
2003.0169.002

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

Wonder Woman Lunch Box

This vinyl-clad, cardboard-core lunch box was made by Aladdin Industries in 1977. The box has a metal snap for hinged lid and hinged white plastic carrying handle. The lunch box has a light blue background and features an image of Wonder Woman on the lid.
Description (Brief)
This vinyl-clad, cardboard-core lunch box was made by Aladdin Industries in 1977. The box has a metal snap for hinged lid and hinged white plastic carrying handle. The lunch box has a light blue background and features an image of Wonder Woman on the lid. Wonder Woman is a DC Comic superhero, originally created in 1941, and the character was propelled into pop-culture fame through the 1975-1979 television series starring Lynda Carter.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1977
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.26.01
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.26.01

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

Bustin' Loose Part 1

Phonograph record is Bustin' Loose Part 1 by Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers. It is housed in an album cover that is worn and torn with masking tape holding it together. The cover is blue with a red circle design in the left corner and is autographed by DJ Grandmaster Flash.
Description (Brief)
Phonograph record is Bustin' Loose Part 1 by Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers. It is housed in an album cover that is worn and torn with masking tape holding it together. The cover is blue with a red circle design in the left corner and is autographed by DJ Grandmaster Flash. The phonograph record is marked with an arrow and is scratched in a circular pattern on one part of the record. This record was used by Grandmaster Flash to make the unique rap sound of "scratching" on a turntable.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
maker
Nouveau Music Company
ID Number
2006.0060.02.1
accession number
2006.0060
catalog number
2006.0060.02.1

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

Johnny Lightning Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1970. The lunch box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible green, plastic handle. Johnny Lightning was a die cast model car brand manufactured from 1969-1971 and 1994-present.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1970. The lunch box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible green, plastic handle. Johnny Lightning was a die cast model car brand manufactured from 1969-1971 and 1994-present. There is an illustrated National Safety Council “Safety First” message printed in black and white on the interior lid.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970
maker
Aladdin Industries Incorporated
ID Number
2001.3087.15
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.15

Marvel Comic's Super Heroes Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin in 1976. It has a metal snap for hinged lid and collapsible black plastic handle. The box features a collection of Marvel superheroes. The lid shows the Fantastic Four, while the back has images of Thor, Spider-Man, and Captain America.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin in 1976. It has a metal snap for hinged lid and collapsible black plastic handle. The box features a collection of Marvel superheroes. The lid shows the Fantastic Four, while the back has images of Thor, Spider-Man, and Captain America. One side shows three images of Bruce Banner in the act of transforming into the Hulk, while the other side shows Daredevil, the Scarlet Witch, and Yellowjacket. The multitude of characters and colors made this a very popular box.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1976
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.11.01
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.11.01

Superman Thermos

This plastic thermos bottle was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1978 and has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a beige plastic, screw-on stopper with a brown and white plastic pouring spout.
Description (Brief)
This plastic thermos bottle was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1978 and has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a beige plastic, screw-on stopper with a brown and white plastic pouring spout. The bottle features colorful action scenes from the movie version of Superman all exterior surfaces. Matches Superman lunch box object #2001.3087.26.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
maker
Aladdin Industries
ID Number
2001.3087.26.02
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.26.02

The Bionic Woman Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1977. The Bionic Woman lunch box features images from the television show, which aired one season from 1976-1977 on ABC and one season 1977-1978 on NBC.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1977. The Bionic Woman lunch box features images from the television show, which aired one season from 1976-1977 on ABC and one season 1977-1978 on NBC. The Bionic Woman was a spin-off of the more popular The Six Million Dollar Man, and starred Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1977
maker
Aladdin Industries
ID Number
2001.3087.24.01
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.24.01

Gunsmoke Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1972. The lunch box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible brown, plastic handle. The exterior features scenes from the television series Gunsmoke on the lid and bottom.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1972. The lunch box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible brown, plastic handle. The exterior features scenes from the television series Gunsmoke on the lid and bottom. Gunsmoke was a radio show from 1952-1961, and ran from 1955-1975 on CBS, and remains the United States' longest-running prime time, live-action hour long drama with 635 episodes.
Date made
1972
maker
Aladdin Industries Incorporated
ID Number
2001.3087.08
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.08

Jonathan Livingston Seagull Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1973. This lunch box has images that are based on Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a 1970 novel by Richard Bach.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1973. This lunch box has images that are based on Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a 1970 novel by Richard Bach. Jonathan Livingston Seagull was a very popular book in the United Sates, and it spent 38 weeks on top of the New York Times Bestseller list. The box features a blue and white design depicting white seagulls flying over a rugged ocean coastline.
Date made
1973
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2001.3087.21.01
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.21.01

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

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

Disco Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin Industries in 1978. It has a metal clasp for hinged lid and collapsible orange plastic handle. The box has a maroon background with an orange rim, and pictures of images of couples dancing to disco on all exterior surfaces.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin Industries in 1978. It has a metal clasp for hinged lid and collapsible orange plastic handle. The box has a maroon background with an orange rim, and pictures of images of couples dancing to disco on all exterior surfaces. This box tries to take advantage of the Disco dance craze popular in American in the late 19070s, which was at its peak in 1978, before the Chicago White Sox’s infamous Disco Demolition Night set off a backlash that made disco decidedly uncool.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.04.01
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.04.01

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

Pinnochio Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin Industries in 1971. It has a metal snap for hinged lid and collapsible red plastic handle. The box features raised images from Walt Disney’s 1940 film Pinocchio on all sides.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin Industries in 1971. It has a metal snap for hinged lid and collapsible red plastic handle. The box features raised images from Walt Disney’s 1940 film Pinocchio on all sides. The lid features an image of Pinocchio going to school with Jiminy Cricket giving chase, while the back shows the climactic scene of Pinocchio and Geppetto racing away from the whale Monstro, having just escaped from his belly.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1971
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.13.01
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.13.01

Skateboarders Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1978. The lunch box is entitled, "The Skateboarder," and features colorful scenes of skateboarders in action on all exterior surfaces.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1978. The lunch box is entitled, "The Skateboarder," and features colorful scenes of skateboarders in action on all exterior surfaces. This lunch box was one of the few that did not feature licensed images from television, and instead tried to cash in on the growing popularity of skateboarding.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1978
maker
Aladdin Industries
ID Number
2001.3087.25
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.25

El Chapulin Colorado Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1979. The lunch box has a red and blue design depicting scenes from the television series, El Chapulin Colorado. El Chapulin Colorado (The Red Grasshopper) ran from 1972-1979 on the Mexican station Televisa.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1979. The lunch box has a red and blue design depicting scenes from the television series, El Chapulin Colorado. El Chapulin Colorado (The Red Grasshopper) ran from 1972-1979 on the Mexican station Televisa. Originally created in Mexico, the show was popular in Latin America and the United Sates, and is credited as inspiring the character of Bumblebee Man from the Simpsons.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1979
maker
Aladdin Industries
ID Number
2001.3087.28
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.28

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

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Thermos

This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1973. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red, plastic stopper.
Description (Brief)
This square plastic thermos bottle was made by Aladdin Industries in 1973. It has a red plastic, screw-on cup lid and a white and red, plastic stopper. The bottle is orange and has a portrait of Fat Albert from the television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids on the front of the thermos. The bottle is the companion to lunch box #2001.3101.03.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1973
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2001.3101.03.02
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.03.02

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

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