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.
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.
Glass chicken egg used for inducing hens to lay eggs. According to Mrs. Gold, to encourage a hen to lay eggs in a specific place, farmers would often begin making their nests and place the artificial nesting eggs in them with the hope that the hen would complete her nest in that location. This also helped the farmer keep track of which hens were laying eggs and where the eggs were located. The glass eggs remained in the nest until the hen laid and incubated the eggs and the offspring hatched. It was important to maintain this process and promptly remove the artificial egg so that it could be reused.
A glass turkey egg used to encourage turkey hens to lay eggs in a particular location. According to Mrs. Gold, to encourage a hen to lay eggs in a specific place, farmers would often begin making their nests and place the artificial nesting eggs in them with the hope that the hen would complete her nest in that location. This also helped the farmer keep track of which hens were laying eggs and where the eggs were located. The glass eggs remained in the nest until the hen laid and incubated the eggs and the offspring hatched. It was important to maintain this process and promptly remove the artificial egg so that it could be reused.
Set of iron leg shackles used in the trans-Atlantic slave trade from Africa to North America. The chains that join each cuff contain incised designs resembling ferns.
Set of iron wrist shackles with two D-shaped cuffs, one containing a pin lock and the other with overlapping links. Relatively small cuffs indicate that they may have been designed for a child.
Patriotic Civil War token with an anti-slavery message. Face image of the token reads "Liberty and No Slavery 1863" and contains an image of Lady Liberty. Obverse image of the token, depicting crossed United States flags, a shield, a liberty cap on a pike, and a garland of laurel leaves with 13 stars.
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.
Three bone buttons acquired from the bodies of John Brown's raiders. The bodies were reinterred at the John Brown Farm in North Elba, New York in 1899. Mounted and framed with a caricature of John Brown.
Black cane with gold head containing the inscription "To WDC from WHJ & JMT 1910." The cane was presented to Dr. William Crum, physician, Collector of Customs in Charleston, South Carolina, and United States minister and consul general to Liberia, at a farewell banquet prior to his ambassadorial journey to Liberia. The initials signify the presenters of the cane: WHJ is William H. Johnson and JMT is J. M. Thompson, both Charleston physicians.
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."
Peach-colored "Free Angela" pin depicting Angela Davis, political activist associated with the Black Panther Party for Self Defense that was established in 1966 in Oakland, California. Pin also reads "Free all political prisoners."
Felt blacklight posters entitled "Pantheress" and "Panther." "Pantheress" depicts an African American woman holding a rifle and handgun, wearing a necklace containing a closed fist. "Panther" depicts an African American man holding an orange rifle.
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.
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.
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.
Snake-shaped wrought iron art object. The eyes are painted red and there are gold painted markings on the body. Forged by Carlton Simmons, Charleston, South Carolina.
