Daily Life

Objects in this section are both ordinary and extraordinary. They are ordinary because they reflect daily life and the stories of how people live, work, play and worship in DeKalb County. Yet, they are extraordinary because someone thought to save these objects that mostly go unseen because they are not part of special or unique experiences.

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Handmade Wooden Box, no date
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Handmade Wooden box creatd from pieces of a Wurlitzer piano by a former Wurlitzer employee, no date.
Drone Canopy, circa 1944
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Canopy that was part of a drone built at DeKalb's Wurlitzer plant during  World War II, c1944.

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Boy Scout Oar, 1959
Boy Scout Canoe Oar
Oar used on Boy Scout canoe trip along Rock River, 1959.
Girl Scout Pocket Knife, circa 1950
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Pocket knife used by Girl Scouts, c1950.

Lesson Planning Book, 1917
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Lesson Planning Book, on loan from Blackwell History of Education Museum, 1917.

Wooden Apple, circa 1978
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Wooden Apple to celebrate 100th Anniversary of North Grove One-Room School, on-loan from North Grove School Association, 1978.

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Family Bible, 1885-1988
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William and Mary Ann Middleton Langhorn Family Bible, 1885-1988.

Cookbook, circa 1900
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Cookbook from Lillie Gudmunsen, c1900.

Mexican reboso, circa 2000
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Mexican reboso, a common garment or used by Mexican women, c2000.

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Confirmation Dress,  June 19,1921
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Confirmation dress worn by Jennye Lahti on June 19, 1921, on loan from DeKalb Area Women's Center.

Dolls for Democracy, Circa 1950

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Dolls for Democracy, used by Congregation Beth Shalom to teach tolerance in area schools, c1950.

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Minister Meeting Photo, circa 1950
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Photo of "Annual Meeting of Ministers" gathered in Sycamore from throughout the country, Israel of God Church, W.H.A., c1950.

Islamic Materials, 2021

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During an Open House, members of the Islamic Center of DeKalb offered to write visitors names in Arabic.  On this sheet the name "Michelle Donahoe" is written in Arabic.