Front and back views of a metal lunchbox and thermos depicting scenes from the television show "Welcome Back, Kotter" which aired on ABC from 1975 to 1979.
Salt-glazed border tiles made from kiln-fired red clay, used to line walkways and gardens. Made by slave labor on a plantation near Hickory Hill, South Carolina. Four tiles exist in the collection, two of each shown here.
Copper slave badge imprinted "Charleston No. 261 Fruiterer 1812." The badge is a contemporary counterfeit--"Fruiterer" is not a known occupation to be printed upon slave badges.
Front and back views of a metal lunchbox and thermos depicting scenes from the television show "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids" which aired from 1972 to 1985.
Copper slave badge, square in shape, reading "Charleston 20 Servant 1823." Under the date, a stamp reads "LAFA," signifying the maker, John Joseph Lafar.
Edison Blue Amberol recording of Fred Van Eps "Darkies Dream" and "Darkies Awakening." Patent information on top of cover reads "1910. John Young, Frederick J Wheeler." Etched into the top of the cylinder is "Thomas A. Edison Patd. 183; 1544 DARKIES DREAM & DARKIES AWAKENING VAN EPS." Bottom of cylinder is imprinted "Seeley Tube and Box Co. Newark, N.J. USA."
A minstrel stick puppet. Minstrel shows were a type of entertainment popular from the 1840s to as late as the 1960s that featured performers in blackface. Figure has movable parts connected by pins. The stick that is used to operate the puppet is broken off.
Small silver identification anklet, possibly used to mark slaves with a history of escaping. Anklet contains a lock, key, and identification tag, which is blank. Manufactured by Hiatt.
Talking J.J. doll from the television show "Good Times" which aired on CBS from 1974 to 1979. The doll speaks nine different phrases when its string is pulled.