Sports & Leisure

The nation's passion for sports is obvious every day—at NASCAR races, kiddie soccer matches, and countless other contests. From a handball used by Abraham Lincoln to Chris Evert's tennis racket to a baseball signed by Jackie Robinson, the roughly 6.000 objects in the Museum's sports collections bear witness to the vital place of sports in the nation's history. Paper sports objects in the collections, such as souvenir programs and baseball cards, number in the hundreds of thousands.

Leisure collections encompass a different range of objects, including camping vehicles and gear, video games, playing cards, sportswear, exercise equipment, and Currier and Ives prints of fishing, hunting, and horseracing. Some 4,000 toys dating from the colonial period to the present are a special strength of the collections.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.11
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.11
patent number
1458543
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.04
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.04
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.06
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.06
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. Resembling a black bowling ball, it was made as a promotion for Amflite’s bowling line. It was one of the last lines Duncan produced before it was bought by Flambeau Products Corp. in 1968.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. Resembling a black bowling ball, it was made as a promotion for Amflite’s bowling line. It was one of the last lines Duncan produced before it was bought by Flambeau Products Corp. in 1968. The success of the bowling ball model prompted Duncan to create an entire "Sportsline" series of yo-yos imitating balls from various sports.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.48
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.48
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It has a clear plastic frame embedded with multi-colored plastic shards. The yo-yo was made to promote the Walt Disney Company's "Wonderful World Of Color" television show, which began in 1954.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It has a clear plastic frame embedded with multi-colored plastic shards. The yo-yo was made to promote the Walt Disney Company's "Wonderful World Of Color" television show, which began in 1954. One side features a golden hot -stamped globe and the words “Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.” The other side reads “Duncan Yo-Yo Return Top.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.43
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.43
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.09
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.09
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.10
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.10
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.07
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.07
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.05
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.05
This Tenite plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It is unopened on a display card that reads "Duncan Mardi Gras Yo-yo Return Top, no. 700." The card features an image of a man in a party hat and mask.
Description (Brief)
This Tenite plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It is unopened on a display card that reads "Duncan Mardi Gras Yo-yo Return Top, no. 700." The card features an image of a man in a party hat and mask. The yo-yo has flat sides with a metal axle and an abstract white, red, black and glitter design .
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.55
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.55
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Jack Russell Company in the 1960s. It is yellow with red sides.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Jack Russell Company in the 1960s. It is yellow with red sides. One side features a portrait of McDonald's Corporation mascot Ronald McDonald in white with the text ‘Ronald McDonald Championship.” The other side features McDonald's trademarked arches and the words “Genuine Russell Yo-Yo, McDonalds, Made in Argentine.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Russell
ID Number
2002.0246.31
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.31
This wooden butterfly yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company from 1958-1965.
Description (Brief)
This wooden butterfly yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company from 1958-1965. It is painted with a light blue glitter enamel paint, and has a stamped gold butterfly design with the words “Duncan Butterfly Yo-Yo.” Butterfly yo-yos have beveled rims tapering inward toward the axle to improve its string catching ability. Although the Duncan company lost its trademark on the term “Yo-Yo” it retains the trademark for“Butterfly.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.23
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.23
This plastic yo-yo was made by SAMCO in the early 1960s. SAMCO, an Italian company, made this yo-yo to promote Coca-Cola brand soda. The yo-yo has rounded sides and a red, white and yellow design depicting a boy pointing to a Coca-Cola bottle.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by SAMCO in the early 1960s. SAMCO, an Italian company, made this yo-yo to promote Coca-Cola brand soda. The yo-yo has rounded sides and a red, white and yellow design depicting a boy pointing to a Coca-Cola bottle.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960-1965
maker
Duncan
SAMCO
ID Number
2002.0246.35
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.35
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.03
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.03
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
ID Number
1984.0331.08
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.08
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.12
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.12
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date made
ca 1936
patent date
1923-06-12
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.01
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.01
This plastic Duncan Imperial yo-yo was made in the early 1960s. It has a marbled design hot-stamped with a fleur-de-lis.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic Duncan Imperial yo-yo was made in the early 1960s. It has a marbled design hot-stamped with a fleur-de-lis.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.29
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.29
This wooden yo-yo was made by the Goody Manufacturing Company in the 1950s-1960s. Goody was a main competitor of the Duncan Toys Co.
Description (Brief)
This wooden yo-yo was made by the Goody Manufacturing Company in the 1950s-1960s. Goody was a main competitor of the Duncan Toys Co. who had trademarked term “yo-yo.” Instead, Goody called their products “Filipino Twirlers,” in reference to the toys' presumed Filipino origins.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950s-1960s
maker
Goody
ID Number
2002.0246.16
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.16
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
patent date
1923-06-12
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.02
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.02
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It is unopened on its original a display card reading “Duncan Official Mickey Mouse Club Yo-yo Return Top.” It has flat sides and transparent view lenses.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It is unopened on its original a display card reading “Duncan Official Mickey Mouse Club Yo-yo Return Top.” It has flat sides and transparent view lenses. Paper inserts feature colorful drawings of Walt Disney Company characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse. This yo-yo is one example of three Duncan Imperial Jr. models featuring Disney characters.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.54
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.54
This wooden yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It is displayed on a white, teal, and black display card. The yo-yo has rounded sides with a red glitter and white rims. There are holes through both rims that creates a whistling sound when spun.
Description (Brief)
This wooden yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It is displayed on a white, teal, and black display card. The yo-yo has rounded sides with a red glitter and white rims. There are holes through both rims that creates a whistling sound when spun. This model was part of Duncan’s "Satellite" line, inspired by the era's space race.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.50
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.50
This yellow, wooden "Duncan Tournament" yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company frin around 1960-1965. Known as a “crossed flags” model, it is the last iteration of Duncan's "Tournament" line in wood. It is mounted on a display card featuring an image of the mascot “Mr.
Description (Brief)
This yellow, wooden "Duncan Tournament" yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company frin around 1960-1965. Known as a “crossed flags” model, it is the last iteration of Duncan's "Tournament" line in wood. It is mounted on a display card featuring an image of the mascot “Mr. Yo-Yo” and the slogan “If it isn't Duncan it isn't Yo-Yo.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.49
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.49
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.13
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.13

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