Medium: PhysicalObject
Feather hat
Date: between 1950 and 1960
This hat was purchased in the 1950’s by Evelyn Henry at either Pelletiers or Crosby Brothers stores in Topeka, Kansas. This onion shaped hat was made by Evelyn Varon Exclusive…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Jockey cap
Date: 1937
This emerald green taffeta jockey cap was purchased in 1937 at Bailey’s Inc. in Evanston, Illinois for $3.50 or $4.50. Verna Camien wore the cap in Sun City, Kansas. An…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Quilt
Date: between 1783 and 1820
Whole-cloth quilt with indigo top made of wool twill fabric that has been calendered or glazed to create sheen. Quilted designs include feather wreaths enclosing shell-shaped medallions. A batting of…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Applique quilt
Date: between 1840 and 1899
Red, green, and white appliqué quilt. Unnamed block pattern features a large 8-lobed red rosette with seven radiating green leaves, a thick green stem, and a red bud on a…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Wild Rose or Rose of Sharon quilt
Date: between 1875 and 1900
Red, green, yellow, and white appliqué quilt. The pattern may be a variation of Wild Rose or Rose of Sharon. Top features four large appliqué medallions, each with eight leafy…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Crazy quilt
Date: 1889
Elaborately embroidered Crazy quilt made of irregularly-shaped pieces of silk stitched to a foundation fabric. Blocks are decorated with many embroidered figures, including insects, flowers, rings, wheat, and snowflakes. Edges…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Courthouse Steps Log Cabin quilt
Date: between 1880 and 1910
Log Cabin quilt in the Courthouse Steps pattern. Silk fabrics include rep, brocade, and velvet weaves. Binding of black silk rep, and a backing of gold-colored sateen. This quilt came…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Crazy quilt
Date: between 1888 and 1910
Crazy quilt made of irregularly shaped dark fabrics, mostly wool. All pieces are outlined in embroidered feather stitching, and each block is embroidered with a different figure, including hearts, flowers,…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Primrose Path quilt
Date: between 1924 and 1927
Fund raising quilt in Primrose Path pattern, with over 300 names embroidered on the top. Cotton quilt is made up of 42 blocks, each composed of over 70 tiny pieces.…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Economy Patch or Thrift Block variation quilt
Date: between 1840 and 1846
Pieced quilt of red, green, and yellow fabrics on white ground. Pattern blocks are a variation of the Economy Patch or Thrift Block design. Hand-stitched and hand-quilted overall in grid,…
Medium: PhysicalObject
P.F. Flyer tennis shoes
Date: between 1950 and 1969
A pair of white canvas tennis shoes with rubber soles. The P.F. stands for the Posture Foundation insole (often referred to as the “magic wedge”) patented by manufacturer B.F. Goodrich…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Girl’s cloche hat
Date: between 1925 and 1928
A girl’s cloche hat worn in the late 1920s. The hat is made of light blue wool and has crocheted flowers on its brim. Cloche hats were very popular in…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Governor Fred Hall’s cowboy boots
Date: between 1940 and 1965
A pair of cowboy boots decorated with many Kansas symbols, including sunflowers, wheat, oil derricks, and the state seal and motto. They were made by the Nocona Boot Company and…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Bleeding cup
Date: between 1840 and 1900
This bloodletting cup was owned by Dr. James Haller (1824-1908). Haller practiced medicine in Middletown, Ohio, in the 1840s and 1850s, and was a surgeon during the Civil War with…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Barbwire section
Date: 1881
Harbaugh’s Torn Ribbon, patented June 7, 1881 by Joseph W. Harbaugh of Lawrence, Kansas.
Medium: PhysicalObject
Admiral John E. Gingrich’s hat
Date: between 1945 and 1947
This U.S. Navy full dress bicorne hat belonged to Admiral John Edward Gingrich (1897-1960). Gingrich was born in Dodge City, Kansas. He attended the University of Kansas and graduated from…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Violin case
Date: between 1800 and 1900
John S. Rhodes donated this primitively carved wooden violin case to the museum in 1915. Rhodes operated a “curiosity shop” in Topeka, Kansas. He claimed the case was carved from…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Commemorative medal
Date: 1972
Metal bar pin with blue grosgrain ribbon and hinged pin and clasp on back. Rectangular box with lid hinged at one end, covered in dark blue simulated leather paper. Lid…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Alpha Kappa Alpha bracelet
Date: 1953
Silver metal charm bracelet of the shield and symbols of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Kappa Alpha is a traditional black sorority. This bracelet was a souvenir of 1953 National Convention…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Pocket watch
Date: between 1861 and 1885
According to the inscription, this watch was presented to Lt. Colonel Thomas J. Jackson sometime after the Battle of Fort Pillow, Tennessee, April 12, 1864. Jackson served with the 11th…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Bowie knife
Date: 1862
“Arkansas Toothpick” bowie knife with wooden handle and metal blade. This type of knife was popular in the Civil War, especially with Confederates. The donor, John P.T. Davis was a…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Avis Chitwood’s dress
Date: between 1897 and 1900
This childhood dress of Avis Chitwood is made of brown and rust-colored silk. Chitwood grew up in Mound City, Kansas, and took an early interest in art. As she aged,…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Telephone
Date: between 1960 and 1969
Green plastic desk-style rotary dial telephone with push-button switchboard and red handset. The Shawnee County Emergency Management department, previously known as the Civil Defense department, used this telephone. It was…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Brooch
Date: between 1860 and 1880
Small, oval-shaped gold brooch. Engraved black enamel tracery design at center. Stippled texture in gold around design; gold in the design is smooth. Bar closure on back with a “t”…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Pin
Date: between 1963 and 1980
Small silver-plated aluminum decorative pin. Design consists of a knife, a fork, and a spoon laid together with their handles crossed. Utensils have plain handles. Post on back for attaching…