Material Culture & Object Studies

A Piece of the Berlin Wall

It is a small piece of the Berlin Wall about the size of a human hand. It is a rough texture with irregular shapes with one side that is flat with a layer of white chalky paint. The piece has a layer of white paint on one area of its surface, so we…

Floral Crystal Hair Clip Accessory

These images show a rhinestone flower accessory placed on a lace fabric. The piece is made with small, shiny stones arranged in a floral shape, giving it an elegant and detailed appearance. This type of accessory can be used as a brooch, hair clip,…

DualSense Controller from Sony’s Playstation 5

The Playstation 5 Dualsense Controller is a modern video game controller released by Sony along side the PS5 console in 2020. It features a smooth white and black design with ergonomic grips and advanced haptic feedback technology that enhance player…

Tasbih Beads

The tasbih is made with beads which Muslims normally use to recite words like Subhana Allah, Allahu Akbar and Astaghfirulla in other to praise their God. It is widely use in Muslims households with every person having their individual tasbih to use…

Homemade Pinhole Camera

This artifact is a homemade pinhole film camera designed to capture images using light exposure through a small aperture. It is constructed from a lightproof box and functions without a traditional lens, relying instead on a tiny pinhole to project…

Vintage Mickey Mouse Landline Telephone

This artifact is a landline phone in the shape of the original Mickey Mouse. These types of phones were seen as decor and were a central part of everyone's everyday lives, as they were the only way they communicated other than word of mouth.…

World War II Large-Caliber Bullet Casing

This artifact is a large caliber bullet casing. This bullet casing was fired and used during World War 2 in the pacific theatre from a naval vessel. The casing is made of brass and is a large caliber, likely used for anti-air purposes. Much of the…

Walt Disney World Mickey Mouse Ear Patch hat (Souvenir Accessory)

This artifact consists of black plastic Mickey Mouse-style ears on a headband with a stitched "Walt Disney World" embroidered patch. A widely recognized souvenir and symbol of Disney theme park culture, it functions as both a wearable keepsake and…

Vintage U.S. Coins; 1909 Indian Head Penny & 1857 Flying Eagle Cent

This artifact includes two old U.S. coins: a 1909 Indian Head Cent and an 1857 Flying Eagle Cent. These coins represent early American currency and show how money has changed over time. The 1857 coin is especially important because it was one of the…

Machete from Guatemala

This machete was obtained by a family member some time while deployed for Operation Desert Storm and passed down. The machete itself has a decorative leather sheath, a black handle, and a long slightly curved steel blade. The blade shows surface ware…

Raspberry Pi 5 made by the Raspberry Pi Foundation

This is the latest version of the Raspberry Pi, which is also the most expensive one ever, at around $305 for 16 GB as of April 21st, 2026. This single-board computer is small but packed with new features like a power button, dual 4Kp60 ports…

Nintendo DS

The DS is a gaming console that was made by the company Nintendo. It was popularized for its inclusive nature and its ability to be easily transported to play with others. With many titles like the Pokémon, Mario and Ace Attorney frranchies being the…

Family Photographs from Mexico, 1950s-1970s

These photographs show my grandmother and her family in Mexico during the mid-20th century. It captures everyday life and reflects clothing, environment, and family relationships of the period. Images like these help preserve personal histories that…

Ye

This edition of Ye by Kanye West features a single 12-inch LP, an album cover, and an inner sleeve that contains the vinyl record. The album cover features a photograph of a mountainous scene and a cloudy sky, with the text “I hate being Bipolar,…

Durag as a Cultural and Grooming Artifact

This headwear serves a duality as both a hairstyling accessory, keeping hair in place and compressed (used often for waves, braids, cornrows), and as a significant cultural identifier, especially within Black communities. The durag appears frequently…

Gold Swiss-Made Pocket Watch

The Swiss pocket watch, which is encased in the original 14k gold, the case which is measured to around 28mm. The pocket watch also includes the original golden yellow chain. The interface— 26cm in width—is made of white enamel with painted Arabic…

The Makara: A Game-Design Model

This creature is known as the Makara and appears in literature and architecture in cultures from South Asia to South America. It appears with a crocodilian body, an elephantine face, and with a fish-like tail. It is revered as a guardian of the water…

Foam “Brick” Prop from The Wall – Live in Berlin concert on July 21, 1990

This prop was used in the 1990 live performance of The Wall in Berlin, by Roger Waters and guest performers. The concert commemorated the fall of the Berlin wall, which occurred eight months before.
As noted by the plaque attached, the prop was…

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Collection Items