Collections Blog

I-0376a Scythe 19th – 20th century Materials: Iron and wood Man harvesting grain with scythe. Image by Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-40790-0001 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The scythe has been around for centuries. Scythes are used as a tool for [...]

I-0603a Rock Painting reproduction Native American Langtry, TX. Materials: Stone, Red Paint This is a reproduction of a piece of cave art found at Bonfire Shelter in Eagle Cave near Langtry, Texas. Eagle cave is located in Mile Canyon, commonly [...]

I-0291h6 Indulgence Catholic 1967 Materials: Paper/Paint Dante between Purgatory and Florence by Domenico di Michelino, 1465. Image via Wikimedia Commons. This object is a plenary indulgence, which is a religious document used by the Catholic church. Indulgences are used to [...]

2016.4.21 Thatching Needle Kickapoo United States 1800-1967 Materials: Metal Needles like this one are  used by women of the Kickapoo tribe to make woven mats using cattails and other plants. These mats are used to make Kickapoo wickiups, the traditional [...]

I-0163a Sword Filipino Materials: Cloth/Metal This sword is a dress sword for the Philippine Constabulary, but was found here in Texas. This sword, though it is from the Philippines, represents an interesting time in American history, the Spanish American war [...]

I-0239b Accordion German 1980 Materials: Wood, metal, leather, plastic This object is an accordion, a musical instrument invented in Europe in the 1800s. It was brought to America by European immigrants and is especially popular in French-Louisiana and along the [...]

I-0566a Grinder American Philadelphia, PA Metal 1873 This object is a coffee grinder that was manufactured in 1873 in Philadelphia by the Enterprise Manufacturing Company. The coffee beans would be placed in the top compartment, and the wheels on the [...]

EX2010.6.13 Canteen American Reproduction Based off of an 1860s Model Materials: Metal, Leather, Cloth This canteen is a reproduction of the canteens that would have been issued to the Buffalo Soldiers during the Indian Wars era. Buffalo Soldier is a [...]

I-0126a Pike-halberd 1970s replica of a 15th century halberd Materials: Cast iron Castle of Nideggen, exhibits in keep (pole arms, including halbred, voulge and pollaxe). Photo by Sir Gawain, via WikiMedia Commons This object is a replica of a halberd [...]

EX2014.1.1 Clock J. Rubio American Huntsville, Texas 2014 Materials: Leather, wood, metal, plastic This item is a clock made from a leather stirrup, mounted on a wooden base. It was made by an inmate of the Texas Department of Criminal [...]