These cycling shoes were used by American track cycling World Champion Sarah Hammer (b. 1983) and were worn between 2010 and 2011. Manufactured by Specialized Bicycle Components, the shoes were first released in the winter of 2009 as a part of their top tier S-Works line of bicycles and equipment.
Hammer’s S-Works shoes incorporate several features that are specific to cycling footwear. The soles are made using carbon fiber, which is an extremely light but rigid material. A rigid material is preferred, since flexing under load reduces the rider’s power output as they perform their circular pedaling motion originating at the leg, through the shoe, pedal, and crankarm. A Shimano brand cycling cleat bolted to the sole of the shoe locks into a road cycling pedal, which allows the rider apply more power throughout the pedal stroke. The shoe’s uppers are constructed of synthetic leather, which is more resistant to stretching than real leather. The two dials on the uppers of the shoes are a proprietary system made by Boa Technology that independently tightens and loosens a steel lace and are easier for the wearer to adjust the fit of the shoe while riding than Velcro or laces.
Snowboard made by Aleksey Ostatnigrosh of GROMEL is multi-colored with art deco circular designs throughout. The board is fabricated from an ash vertical laminated wood core, carbon fiber, fiberglass, rubber, stainless steel and a P-Tex racing base. Each of GROMEL's boards are hand made, by the donor of the board, Aleksey Ostatnigrosh who emigrated from Russia to the United States in 1994. Ostatnigrosh was one of two founders of the first Russian snowboard production company, GROMEL, in 1986. Working in their parent's apartments, Ostatnigrosh and Alex Melnikov were pressed for space and after several moves ended up renting a store front on Gorky Street, in the heart of Moscow. According to the donor, in 1993, after the fall of socialism, private companies were "advised to buy protection" and GROMEL wasn't big enough to afford it. They sold their company to a bigger, better protected company but no snowboards were ever produced. Moving to the US allowed Ostatnigrosh to forge a career as an IT developer and continue to craft his custom made snowboards. In 2008, Ostatnigrosh began crafting his snowboards as a piece of sports equipment but also as works of art, using a unique top sheet created from exotic wood veneers and hand painted elements and refusing to use computer equipment in his graphic designs. he is heavily influenced by early 20th Century art styles such as Constructivism, Cubism and Art Deco.
Miss Piggy is a hand-rod puppet originally performed by Frank Oz and currently performed by Eric Jacobson. In a hand-rod puppet, like Miss Piggy, the performer’s dominant hand goes into the puppet’s head and operates the mouth and sometimes other facial features. The less dominant hand controls the arm rods, which are thin rods connected to the puppet’s hands. Miss Piggy is a diva pig who believes she is a superstar. She is madly in love with Kermit the Frog and is an expert in karate. Miss Piggy began as “Piggy Lee” on The Tonight Show in 1974 and eventually the “Lee” was dropped so as not to upset Peggy Lee. Miss Piggy then became a major character on The Muppet Show. This specific puppet was created for display at the National Museum of American History in 2016.
This Elmo plush toy is an example of the sorts of things by members of the local community for migrants being served by the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border. Elmo is a character on the popular children’s television show, Sesame Street.
The Humanitarian Respite Center was founded in 2014 by Sister Norma (Sr. Norma) Pimentel, executive director of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, the charitable arm of the Diocese of Brownsville. Out of a belief in supporting the dignity of vulnerable people, Sr. Norma established the center at a time when a surge of Central American migrants caused a humanitarian crisis and great political controversy in the United States. The center shelters and cares for migrants for a day after their release by the Border Patrol before they travel to the homes of sponsors, typically family or friends, as part of their immigration process. Among the center’s supporters are members of the predominantly Mexican-American local community who donate clothing, toys, and other necessary supplies to help the newcomers. Between 2014 and 2021, the center assisted over 100,000 refugees.
Costume worn by Patrick Stewart in his role as Professor Charles Xavier in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past. Stewart originated the role of Magneto on screen in 2000 and reappears in the five subsequent films in the series leading up to Days of Future Past. The film earned over $747 million worldwide, making it the 6th highest grossing film of 2014.
The character of Professor X originated in the world of Marvel Comics in 1963. He is a mutant, born with the ability to control and read minds. In the comic, Professor X establishes the X-Men in order to promote peaceful existence between humans and mutants.
Ororo Munroe/Storm Costume from the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past. Acrtress Halle Berry originated the role of Storm on screen in 2000. The character of Storm was introduced in Marvel Comics in 1975. She was the company's first black female supehero.
Costume worn by Ian McKellen in his role as Erik Lensherr/Magneto in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past. McKellen originated the role of Magneto on screen in 2000 and reappears in two subsequent films in the series leading up to Days of Future Past. McKellen shared this role with Michael Fassbender, who plays a younger version of Magneto in X-Men: First Class and subsequent films. The film earned over $747 million worldwide, making it the 6th highest grossing film of 2014.
The character of Magneto originated in the world of Marvel Comics in 1963. His character is complex, as he has been portrayed as villain, antihero, and superhero throughout the series.
Leotard worn by Lee Dockins of Russellville, Kentucky representing Team USA at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China in 2007. Lee Dockins (b. 1987) started gymnastics at age five. She soon began to compete, practicing at least three days each week at her local gym in Russellville, Kentucky. After more than 150 competitions, including at several World Games, she became a coach at her local gym. Today, she works with preschoolers of all abilities, teaching them to build their flexibility and introducing them to difficult equipment, such as the parallel bars.
From its beginnings as Camp Shriver in Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s backyard, to the first international games in 1968, Special Olympics has been about giving people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in sport. This participation builds confidence, provides emotional support and offers social opportunities for the athletes and their families. With state chapters and a global presence through its World Games, “Special Olympics is the largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities with 5 million athletes in 170 countries worldwide.”
Wolverine costume used in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past. Hugh Jackman originated the role of Wolverine on screen in 2000, appearing in the five subsequent films in the series leading up to Days of Future Past.
The Marvel Comics character Wolverine was introduced in 1974. The antihero became one of the most popular characters in "X-Men" series.
Marvel Comics' X-Men were introduced by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby in 1963. The story follows a group of mutants born with superpowers led by wheelchair using telepath Professor Charles Xavier. Facing fear and prejudice for their differences, the comic has been used an allegory for topics related to race, gender and sexual identity. The X-Men first ran from 1963-1970, being reintroduced in 1975.
The X-Men have become one of Marvel's most notable franchises, introducing many of the company's most popular characters and many spin-off titles as well as movies, television programs, video games and other merchandise.
Display case; conceptual display showing the stages of making synthetic fleece-type textiles, with plastic bottles, finely chopped plastic chips from recycled plastic bottles, culminating in the pelletization of the plastic chips all shown in a three-tiered plexiglas bin. This case is one part of a display that includes the following samples, catalogued separately, of soda-bottle-derived eco-fiber polyester fleece manufacturing processes: 1. undyed fiber; 2. dyed (red) fiber; 3. sliver (red dyed fiber ready for spinning); 4. yard goods (red, knitted and finished); 5. jacket (hooded fleece fabric outer jacket; Patagonia brand).
This is a concise display that graphically, with the associated fiber, fabric, and jacket, conveys the “soda bottle to clothing” history of this American invention, which is a staple of American life today. First introduced by Malden Mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1979, owner Aaron Feuerstein chose NOT to patent the invention, allowing it to be copied around the world. Malden Mills was devastated by a fire in 1995, and although Feuerstein tried to keep the company afloat and operating in New England until 2001, through some bankruptcies, reorganizations, and sale of assets, production was finally relocated to Tennessee and New Hampshire in 2015, under the name Polartec LLC.
Polyester fleece from recycled plastic bottles was at first considered an ecological boon as it kept these plastics out of the landfills and the oceans. Recent scientific inquiry has found that the microfibers that are washed off of fleece materials in daily use find their way into the world’s waterways and since they do not degrade, have also begun to show up in fish. This is an important story of invention, evaluation, reassessment; the importance of science and scientific inquiry, and the importance of continued review of the impact of human actions on the environment.
