Uncovering Our History Through The Relics Left Behind
Posted in Doll collectors, and Dolls
On Sunday, the Paul Robeson House & Museum in Philadelphia will host Barbara Whiteman, founder of the Philadelphia Doll Museum, which houses her collection of hundreds of black dolls. The museum, which opened in 1988,…
Wow, I thought as I saw the bold figure of a lion drawn in deep dark colors that seemed to glisten on the page in front of me. I had asked the auction-house staffer for…
I was flipping through a stack of photos at auction recently and found two that caused me to pause. Both were black and whites of two separate groups of black men who were Masons. They…
Posted in Children, collectibles, Performers, and Toys
Mickey and Minnie had lost their luster. They lay inert in a case at the auction house like discarded playthings. Their clothes were tattered, their bodies were marred (Minnie had a chip on her nose),…
Posted in Advertising, collectibles, Equipment, and Vehicles
The thing had the shape and look of one of those parking meters that we’re constantly pumping with quarters and nickels to stave off a parking ticket. But I could see that this one was…
First, I saw a black and white photograph of people on the streets looking upward, their faces giving no hint of what they were seeing. The photo beneath it showed a minister in collar presumably…
Posted in collectibles, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, history, and Native Americans
When I see items at auction about Native Americans, I’m drawn to them as much as I am to those pertaining to African Americans. We both share a history in this country that has not…
I heard the soft melodious sound as soon I entered the auction house that morning. Someone was playing a piano, and that was unusual. I followed the music, wondering who among the staff or auction-goers…
Posted in collectibles, Personal items, and Women
A year or so ago, I was asked by a friend to go through his deceased aunt’s house to see if there were any items of value. He was afraid that he’d inadvertently toss out…
Posted in Advertising, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, and Games
As soon as I saw the first few lines on the folded and wrinkled sheet of paper, I figured the rest was tongue-in-cheek: IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT YOUR GIRL’S AGE, There was a…
