Sources of Inquiry

Case 8: Artifacts

Historical artifacts are objects, usually three-dimensional and man made, that illuminate or provide unique insights into past cultures and social attitudes. Often acquired as part of archival collections, artifacts draw meaning from contextual relationships they have with other materials. People, organizations, and others collect and keep artifacts for their usefulness, to commemorate an event or accomplishment, or to promote a viewpoint or unique perspective.

On display are a diverse group of artifacts, including mementos, items used in the course of daily life or work, and religious and cultural objects. These include a gauze wrapped umbilical cord carried by members of the Shlakis family as they fled revolution and social unrest in Russia, and settled in Shanghai in 1936. After World War II the family was again forced to flee, first to Taipei, Taiwan and then to the US, carrying this sacred keepsake halfway around the world.

Lupita dolls, also known as cartonería dolls, were originally created as toys for poorer children. They were later used by cuckolded wives to indicate knowledge of a mistress's name, or placed in the windows of brothels in Mexico City to indicate a prostitute's availability. Other artifacts on display include a 19th-century Ethiopian satchel that carried the Psalms of David written in Ge'ez, the ancient liturgical language of Ethiopia; a trophy won in an egg laying contest; and an anatomically-correct bean-bag frog used by a clinical social worker.

Case 9, First-Person Narratives, is the flat case toward the Gohstand Reading Room.

• 1

  Piece of Berlin Wall, 1989Daniel R. Hayes Berlin Wall Piece

• 2

  Trophy won by J.T. Milligan & Son in The Evening Post International Egg Laying Contest, April 14, 1913Kraemer-Milligan Family Collection

• 3

  Civil War canteen belonging to Captain John M. Sell, 83rd Regiment of the Pennsylvania VolunteersJohn M. Sell Civil War Collection

• 4

  Negative Glass Plate Holder by Perken, Son & Rayment, 1890Richard Fish Collection

• 5

  Bean bag frog with male genitaliaLibby A. Tanner Collection

• 6

  Gauze-wrapped umbilical cordZoya Shlakis Collection

• 7

  Robert F. Kennedy presidential campaign hat, 1968Vicky and Joann Semones Collection

• 8

  Barry Goldwater tin can, "The Right Drink for the Conservative Taste," 1964Campaign Memorabilia Collection

• 9

  Scottish Company of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps Glengarry Bonnet worn by Private Richard Knox, circa 1938Kliene Family Collection

• 10

  Medal awarded to Edwin Samuel Milligan, Torpedoman's Mate, Class I, by the US Navy for "Fidelity, Obedience, Zeal," circa 1920Kraemer-Milligan Family Collection

• 11

  "Shanghai Millionaire" board game, circa 1940Bell Family Collection

• 12

  Psalms of David with leather carrying bag, Ethiopia, circa 1800BS 325 E75 1800z

• 13

  "Save Autistic Children Telethon" plaque, 1977Harvey and Connie Lapin Collection

• 14

  Lupita dolls "Julia" and "Filomena," probably made in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, circa 1930-1950Catherine Mulholland Collection