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.

Topic: Engineering

Maschinenfabrik, Augsburg Toy Machine Shop

This toy machine shop was made by an unknown manufacturer during the early 20th century. The toy shop has a variety of tools including a stamping press, grinder, drill press, lathe, and trip hammer.
Description (Brief)
This toy machine shop was made by an unknown manufacturer during the early 20th century. The toy shop has a variety of tools including a stamping press, grinder, drill press, lathe, and trip hammer. All the toys are connected to pulleys on an overhead line shaft under a roof with two skylights, and a sign labeled “Maschinenfabrik, Augsburg.” Maschinenfabrik is German for “Engineering Works.” A vertical steam engine is connected to the line shaft, powering all the machines in the shop.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1910
ID Number
MC.329089
catalog number
329089
accession number
278175

Multi-bit Screwdriver

This is a four-bit interchangeable screwdriver. The handle is made of yellow plastic with a black nylon grip. A hollow shaft can be removed from its grip. A dual-bit can be inserted into each end of the hollow shaft.
Description
This is a four-bit interchangeable screwdriver. The handle is made of yellow plastic with a black nylon grip. A hollow shaft can be removed from its grip. A dual-bit can be inserted into each end of the hollow shaft. For this screwdriver, there are two flat head bits and two phillips head bits. All of different sizes. This image shows the flat head bit. It was used by Jillian Gross while working for Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit, non-government organization advocating affordable housing around the world.
When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005, Jillian Gross had worked with Habitat for Humanity for three years learning woodworking and house-building skills. Groups such as Habitat for Humanity marshaled volunteers, tools and lumber to step in when it became clear that normal avenues of housing assistance were overwhelmed.
In November 2005, Habitat for Humanity launched “America Builds on the National Mall,” a demonstration house-building marathon in Washington, D.C. in which the basic components of 51 homes were assembled within a week and shipped to the Gulf Coast. Upon completion of the project Ms. Gross, one of the house building leaders during this event, donated her tool belt, tools and protective wear to the Smithsonian Institution.
ID Number
2005.0276.16
catalog number
2005.0276.16
accession number
2005.0276

Carpenter's Pencil

This pencil was grouped with a number of pencils found in the pocket of a tool belt used by Jillian Gross while working for Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit, non-government organization advocating affordable housing around the world.
Description
This pencil was grouped with a number of pencils found in the pocket of a tool belt used by Jillian Gross while working for Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit, non-government organization advocating affordable housing around the world. Carpenter pencils have an two wide flat sides to keep them from rolling. The graphite core is generally wide and flat, making it easy to mark course materials when using the flat side while using the thinner side for precision marks.
When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005, Jillian Gross had worked with Habitat for Humanity for three years learning woodworking and house-building skills. Groups such as Habitat for Humanity marshaled volunteers, tools and lumber to step in when it became clear that normal avenues of housing assistance were overwhelmed.
In November 2005, Habitat for Humanity launched “America Builds on the National Mall,” a demonstration house-building marathon in Washington, D.C. in which the basic components of 51 homes were assembled within a week and shipped to the Gulf Coast. Upon completion of the project Ms. Gross, one of the house building leaders during this event, donated her tool belt, tools and protective wear to the Smithsonian Institution.
ID Number
2005.0276.29
catalog number
2005.0276.29
accession number
2005.0276

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