A Lost Block of Cooper Street
Expansion of the Victor Talking Machine Company spelled the end for a block of houses on Cooper Street between Front Street and Delaware Avenue.
Charlene Mires
March 3, 2020
Copyright 2020, Charlene Mires. Do not reproduce or cite without permission of the author.
North Baptist Church (Research Report)
The North Baptist Church, an important community institution, stood on the site of the Rutgers-Camden Fine Arts Building.
Tia Antonelli
November 6, 2023
Copyright 2023, Tia Antonelli. Do not reproduce or cite without permission of the author.
Typewriter Dusting Brush
Typewriter manufacturing companies of the early twentieth century often paired the machines with a manual and a cleaning kit, providing consumers with two cleaning brushes, an oil can, and a small screwdriver. This "Typewriters Companion" dusting brush, made in France, would have been paired with a shorter, stiff-bristled brush that was used first to remove the hardened grime from between the type keys. The dusting brush was typically used after the type brush to wiping the typewriter clean of loosened dirt and dust without harming it. The handle was originally threaded with horsehair bristles, creating a much softer surface than the wire bristles of its partner, the type brush. With its long, curved handle and its wide set of soft bristles, the Typewriters Companion played a significant role in maintaining typewriters in the early twentieth century.
Recovered from excavation prior to construction of Rutgers-Camden dormitory at 330 Cooper Street, Camden, N.J.
Rutgers University-Camden
c. 1880-1930; photographs, March 2018.
McKenna Britton (Graduate Student, American Material Culture, Spring 2018)
Collection of Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts
Affleck, Richard, George Cress, Ingrid Weubber, Rebecca White, Kimberly Morrell, and Thomas Kutys. Phase II and Data-Recovery Archaeological Excavations of the Smith-Maskell Site Cooper Street Development Camden, New Jersey. Archaeological Excavation Report, Burlington: URS Corporation.
Bone brush handle, 14.5 cm (length) x 0.5 cm (width).
Glass Syringe
<p>In the second half of the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century, doctors and patients at home relied on glass syringes to treat various conditions, including venereal diseases. Unlike hypodermic needles, these artifacts, also called “male” syringes, did not inject medicine subcutaneously. Instead, these syringes irrigated or flushed the visibly infected parts of the body. The “male” syringe entered the tip of the penis to flush the symptoms from the urethra. In addition to the discomfort, these treatments failed to cure the venereal diseases and only masked the symptoms for periods of time.<br /><br />Read more about this object: <a href="https://omeka.camden.rutgers.edu/items/show/16">https://omeka.camden.rutgers.edu/items/show/16</a></p>
Recovered from excavation prior to construction of Rutgers-Camden dormitory at 330 Cooper Street, Camden, N.J.
Rutgers University-Camden
c. 1840-1900; photographed April 2018.
TJ Potero (Graduate Student, American Material Culture, Spring 2018); photograph by Jacob Lechner.
Collection of Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts
Affleck, Richard, George Cress, Ingrid Weubber, Rebecca White, Kimberly Morrell, and Thomas Kutys. Phase II and Data-Recovery Archaeological Excavations of the Smith-Maskell Site Cooper Street Development Camden, New Jersey. Archaeological Excavation Report, Burlington: URS Corporation.
Hand-blown glass syringes.
Syringe #1, Barrel: 5 ½ in (L) (13.97 cm (L), Plunging Rod: 3 ½ in (L).
Syringe #2. Barrel 3 ½ in (L) (13.97 cm (L), Plunging Rod: 3 ¼ in (L).
"Frozen Charlotte" Doll
Inspired by the cautionary tale “Fair Charlotte,” in which a young woman froze to death after refusing her mother's advice to dress warmly for a sleigh ride, this German-made china doll was created as a bathing toy for young children in the late nineteenth century. The dolls stood anywhere from 1/4 inch to 5 inches, often with painted-on faces and hair. They were could also be baked into cakes or displayed in miniature coffins in the home.
Recovered from excavation prior to construction of Rutgers-Camden dormitory, 330 Cooper Street, Camden, N.J.
Rutgers University-Camden
Late nineteenth century; photograph April 2018.
Amanda Cross (Graduate Student, American Material Culture, Spring 2018); photograph by Jacob Lechner.
Collection of Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts
Affleck, Richard, George Cress, Ingrid Weubber, Rebecca White, Kimberly Morrell, and Thomas Kutys. Phase II and Data-Recovery Archaeological Excavations of the Smith-Maskell Site Cooper Street Development Camden, New Jersey. Archaeological Excavation Report, Burlington: URS Corporation.
China doll, 4 inches in length.
Homan, Amos C.
A Civil War veteran, Amos Homan operated a cigar stand at 37 Cooper Street and eventually bought the building.
Burrell, William H.
William Burrell, a clergyman, performed weddings for couples seeking to evade license requirements in Philadelphia.
Battle, James Iverson
Once a janitor, James Battle may be the only African American to advance from a position of service on Cooper Street to heading his own household.
Chambers, Margaret
Margaret Chambers, a boarding house operator and entrepreneur, was a fixture at 59 Cooper Street for two decades beginning in 1893.
421 Cooper Street
Contributing structure, Cooper Street Historic District.