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: 1960s

Photograph Album of Remedios F. Reyes

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950s-1960s
ID Number
2021.0064.0001
catalog number
2021.0064.0001
accession number
2021.0064

Digi-Comp 1 Toy Computer

In the mid-1960s, most children had never seen an electronic computer. However, they had heard stories of the power of these giant instruments and knew that they were associated with space flight.
Description
In the mid-1960s, most children had never seen an electronic computer. However, they had heard stories of the power of these giant instruments and knew that they were associated with space flight. This toy brought the mathematical principles of the digital computer into the home. The manual describes several problems that could be set up, including a basic check out of whether the device was functioning properly, counting down from 7 to 1 in binary, logical riddles, and the game of NIM. There is a special piece that can be used to represent the logical operation "or." The toy was made by E.S.R., Inc. of Orange and Montclair, New Jersey. It sold for about $5.00.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1965
date received
1977
maker
E.S.R., Incorporated
ID Number
1978.0067.59
catalog number
1978.0067.59
accession number
1978.0067

Batman and Robin Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1966. The lunch box features images of the comic strip version of Batman and Robin that ran from 1966-1974.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1966. The lunch box features images of the comic strip version of Batman and Robin that ran from 1966-1974. These Batman and Robin strips took on the some of the campy nature of television’s Batman, but also introduced some of the series most interesting storylines.
Date made
1966
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.01
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.01

Julia Thermos

This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1969. It has a screw-on, green plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper. The bottle has colorful drawings from the television show Julia on the side of the thermos.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1969. It has a screw-on, green plastic cup lid and a beige and red screw-on, plastic stopper. The bottle has colorful drawings from the television show Julia on the side of the thermos.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1969
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.18
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.18

Pets and Pals Thermos

Plastic and glass thermos bottle with a red plastic screw-on cup lid and red and beige plastic, screw-on stopper. There is a yellow design with a farm scene with a young girl, a boy and a dog and horses overall.
Description (Brief)
Plastic and glass thermos bottle with a red plastic screw-on cup lid and red and beige plastic, screw-on stopper. There is a yellow design with a farm scene with a young girl, a boy and a dog and horses overall.
Date made
1962
maker
Thermos
ID Number
2001.3087.11.02
nonaccession number
2001.3087
catalog number
2001.3087.11.02

The Beverly Hillbillies Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1963. It features colorful action scenes from the television series The Beverly Hillbillies, on the lid, back and the sides.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1963. It features colorful action scenes from the television series The Beverly Hillbillies, on the lid, back and the sides. The Beverly Hillbillies ran from 1962-1971 on CBS, and was of the most successful shows of the 1960s. It held the number one spot in the Nielsen ratings its first two years, and received multiple Emmy nominations.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1963
maker
Aladdin Industries
ID Number
2001.3099.02
nonaccession number
2001.3099
catalog number
2001.3099.02

The Flintstones Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was made by Aladdin industries in 1962. The box has an orange rim, and features images from The Flintstones on the lid, back and sides. The Flintstones ran from 1960-1966 on ABC, and was the longest running prime-time cartoon until The Simpsons.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was made by Aladdin industries in 1962. The box has an orange rim, and features images from The Flintstones on the lid, back and sides. The Flintstones ran from 1960-1966 on ABC, and was the longest running prime-time cartoon until The Simpsons. The Flintstones continued in a variety of television specials, movies, and films after its cancelation, and its other licensed products such as cereal and vitamins remain popular.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1962
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2001.3100.09.01
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.09.01

Peter Pan Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin in 1969. It has a metal clasp for hinged lid and collapsible white plastic handle. The lunch box features images from Walt Disney’s Peter Pan, made in 1953.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin in 1969. It has a metal clasp for hinged lid and collapsible white plastic handle. The lunch box features images from Walt Disney’s Peter Pan, made in 1953. One side shows Peter crossing swords with Captain Hook, rescuing Wendy Darling from his evil grasps. The other side shows Peter flying around the island of Neverland with Wendy, John, and Michael Darling.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1969
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.12.01
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.12.01

scrapbook page

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1963
associated date
1963-02-06
1963-02-22
ID Number
2003.0042.03B
accession number
2003.0042
catalog number
2003.0042.03B

Blondie Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1969. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, blue plastic handle. The box features colorful drawings from the cartoon series Blondie on the lid, back and sides.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1969. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, blue plastic handle. The box features colorful drawings from the cartoon series Blondie on the lid, back and sides. Created in 1930, Blondie was originally the focus of the strip, as a carefree flapper who dated a rich playboy in Dagwood Bumstead. However, when they married, Dagwood’s family disowned him and the strip changed to focus on the day to day life of Dagwood as a middle-class working guy with a loving family.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1969
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.11
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.11

Popeye Thermos

This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1964. It has a white plastic, screw-on cup lid and a beige and red plastic, screw-on stopper. The bottle features images from the cartoon series, Popeye on the sides.
Description (Brief)
This tin, plastic and glass thermos bottle was made by Thermos in 1964. It has a white plastic, screw-on cup lid and a beige and red plastic, screw-on stopper. The bottle features images from the cartoon series, Popeye on the sides. The bottle is the companion piece to lunch box #2001.3101.12.01.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1964
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.12.02
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.12.02

Popeye Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1964. The box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, dark brown plastic handle. The box has colorful action scenes and portrait drawings from the cartoon series Popeye on the lid, back and sides.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1964. The box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, dark brown plastic handle. The box has colorful action scenes and portrait drawings from the cartoon series Popeye on the lid, back and sides. Popeye the sailor was originally created as a comic-strip character by E.C. Segar in 1929, and has continued to the present while also appearing in radio, television, and movies.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1964
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.12.01
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.12.01

The Flintstones

This metal, glass and plastic thermos bottle has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a red and gray, screw-on plastic stopper. This bottle is the companion to lunch box #2001.3100.09.01.
Description (Brief)
This metal, glass and plastic thermos bottle has a screw-on, red plastic cup lid and a red and gray, screw-on plastic stopper. This bottle is the companion to lunch box #2001.3100.09.01. The bottle features art from The Flintstones, of the Flintstone and Rubble family eating a picnic and their children playing with their dinosaur, Dino.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1962
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2001.3100.09.02
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.09.02

Submarine Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1960. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, red plastic handle. The art on the lunch box features images of four submarines on the back and sides.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1960. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, red plastic handle. The art on the lunch box features images of four submarines on the back and sides. The submarines are the USS Nautilus, Seawolf, Skipjack, and George Washington. The George Washington is shown firing an underwater missile, and there is a cross-section of the USS Nautilus on the bottom.
Date made
1960
maker
Thermos
American Thermos Bottle Company
ID Number
2001.3101.06.01
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.06.01

Lost in Space Lunch Box

This metal dome lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1967. This lunch box features images from the television show Lost in Space, which ran from 1965-1968 on CBS.
Description (Brief)
This metal dome lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1967. This lunch box features images from the television show Lost in Space, which ran from 1965-1968 on CBS. Lost in Space was originally named Space Family Robinson, and was a futuristic take on the Swiss Family Robinson. The box features a colorful scene of the Robinsons in their vehicle, the Chariot, motoring over a beautifully drawn alien landscape and fighting an alien with their laser guns on the sides.
Date made
1967
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.19.01
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.19.01

The Green Hornet Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1967. The lunch box features imagery from the television series The Green Hornet on the lid, sides and back.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was manufactured by Thermos in 1967. The lunch box features imagery from the television series The Green Hornet on the lid, sides and back. The Green Hornet was originally created as a radio program in the 1930s, but existed as film serials, comic book series, and a television show that this lunch box was based on. The show ran for one season in 1966, and starred Van Williams as the crime-fighting Green Hornet, and Bruce Lee as his sidekick Kato.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.06.01
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.06.01

Yellow Submarine Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1968. The box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, yellow plastic handle. The box has a pink and yellow background on the front and back, and an orange rim.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1968. The box has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, yellow plastic handle. The box has a pink and yellow background on the front and back, and an orange rim. The front and back of the lunch box has colorful drawings of the members of The Beatles from the animated feature, "Yellow Submarine.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1968
depicted
Beatles
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.07
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.07

Ludwig Von Drake Lunch Box

This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin in 1961. It has a metal snap for hinged lid and collapsible white plastic handle. The lunch box features cartoon images of Ludwig Von Drake at Disneyland on all external surfaces.
Description (Brief)
This steel lunch box was made by Aladdin in 1961. It has a metal snap for hinged lid and collapsible white plastic handle. The lunch box features cartoon images of Ludwig Von Drake at Disneyland on all external surfaces. Ludwig von Drake was introduced as a Disney character in 1961, as part of the first show of Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1961
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.10.01
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.10.01

Mod Tulip Lunch Box

This lunch box is a domed, tin lunch box with two metal snaps for a hinged lid and a collapsible beige plastic handle. The box has a colorful floral design over a black background.
Description (Brief)
This lunch box is a domed, tin lunch box with two metal snaps for a hinged lid and a collapsible beige plastic handle. The box has a colorful floral design over a black background.
Date made
1962
maker
Ohio Art Company
ID Number
2001.3100.07
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.07

Op-Art Lunch Box

This domed steel lunch box is a conceptual design by Aladdin Industries in 1968 that was never manufactured. It has two metal snaps for a hinged dome lid and collapsible yellow plastic handle.
Description (Brief)
This domed steel lunch box is a conceptual design by Aladdin Industries in 1968 that was never manufactured. It has two metal snaps for a hinged dome lid and collapsible yellow plastic handle. The box has an undulating orange, yellow and blue checkerboard pattern that is made of vinyl and taped to bread loaf lunch box (see 2001.3101.16).
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1968
maker
Aladdin
ID Number
2003.3070.24
nonaccession number
2003.3070
catalog number
2003.3070.24

Barbie Lunch Box

Barbie was originally invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler, and the Mattel Corporation has sold over a billion Barbie dolls world wide since that time.
Description (Brief)
Barbie was originally invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler, and the Mattel Corporation has sold over a billion Barbie dolls world wide since that time.
Date made
1962
maker
American Thermos Bottle Company
ID Number
2004.3009.22.01
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.22.01

Battle Kit Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1965. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, olive green plastic handle. The lunch box is entitled “BATTLE KIT” and shows action scenes of soldiers in a jungle setting on the front, back, and sides.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1965. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible, olive green plastic handle. The lunch box is entitled “BATTLE KIT” and shows action scenes of soldiers in a jungle setting on the front, back, and sides.
Date made
1965
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3101.04.01
nonaccession number
2001.3101
catalog number
2001.3101.04.01

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Lunch Box

This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1966. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible black, plastic handle. The box has a yellow and red design with colorful action drawings from the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on the lid, sides and back.
Description (Brief)
This tin lunch box was made by Thermos in 1966. It has a metal snap for a hinged lid and a collapsible black, plastic handle. The box has a yellow and red design with colorful action drawings from the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on the lid, sides and back. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ran from 1964-1968 on NBC, and focused on the espionage activities of two agents from the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.
Date made
1966
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2001.3100.12.01
nonaccession number
2001.3100
catalog number
2001.3100.12.01

GI Joe Lunch Box

This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1967. The box has a collapsible plastic handle and one metal snap. The lunch box features GI Joe, a toy action hero produced by Hasbro since 1964.
Description (Brief)
This metal lunch box was made by Thermos in 1967. The box has a collapsible plastic handle and one metal snap. The lunch box features GI Joe, a toy action hero produced by Hasbro since 1964. Each side features a member of the Armed Forces, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines heroically performing their duty in action packed images. This box would have been made in the thick of the Vietnam War era, which is where the action seems located.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967
maker
King Seeley Thermos
ID Number
2004.3009.33
nonaccession number
2004.3009
catalog number
2004.3009.33

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