A Celebration of Community

Celebrations

Rememberances of Everyday Life

The Smithsonian houses the memorabilia of presidents, celebrities, sports heroes, renowned scientists, and acclaimed artists. But many of the Institution's objects were once the possessions of ordinary people. The Smithsonian preserves everyday things because the passage of time transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. The tools, toys, and clothing that the Smithsonian collected more than a century ago are things we marvel at today. The artifacts that the Smithsonian continues to collect will fascinate future generations.

Anacostia Case Study

These artifacts, dating from the early 1900s through the 1960s, are part of a larger group of personal effects that the Griffiths family of Washington, D.C., donated to the Smithsonian. Passed down from one generation to another, they became symbols of the stories, people, and places in their owners' memories. The keepsake and jewelry boxes contain traces of daily life--from bus tokens and business cards to political buttons and holiday souvenirs. Some of the letters in the keepsake boxes record the employment, social activities, and family life of Delaphine Griffith, who lived in Washington, D.C. but often worked as a domestic in resort areas like Atlantic City, New Jersey. Later letters trace the struggle of her daughter, Jacqueline Griffith, to obtain federal employment. The 1950's television set was the first on the block in the Griffiths' neighborhood. Neighbors used to gather at their home to watch it.

Record Album	Stamps	Black Toddler Doll & Child's Bentwood Chair
Keepsake Box	Television Set	Jewlery Box
Beckley Farm Wagon	Child's Dress	Young Woman's Dress
Fishtrap Basket	Wicasa Shirt	Double Figure
Trickster Doll	Dog Sled	Inverted Stamp

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