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).
White Ball Clay Pipe
Both men and women enjoyed the sweet flavors and the soothing properties of tobacco through white ball clay pipes. Clay smoking pipes are some of the first mass-produced items. Because of this mass production, clay pipes served as an affordable alternative to those who could not afford the more expensive options made of brier wood or meerschaum. Serving as a cheap way to enjoy the pleasures of tobacco, factory workers purchased these pipes one or two at a time. After a couple bowls of tobacco, the pipes would be thrown away.
Excavation prior to construction of Rutgers-Camden dormitory at 330 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ.
Rutgers University-Camden
c. 1880-1890; photographs, March 2018.
Ernie Ariens (Graduate Student, American Material Culture, Spring 2018); photographs 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.
Clay pipe, 4 inches in length with a stem 0.1090 inches in diameter and 3.75 inches long.
Mason's Improved Fruit Jar
A product of the Consolidated Fruit Jar Company in late 1870s, this Mason’s Improved Jar proved to be popular and accessible to many people in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A common household item, the jar helped housewives during the time-consuming process of canning and changed the way people viewed food preservation. The storage and protection these jars provided helped mothers achieve their goals of maintaining a healthy household. These jars were mass produced until the twentieth century, which causes their abundance today.
The inventor of the Mason jar, John Landis Mason, was born in Vineland, N.J., in 1832. He patented his jar in 1858.
Recovered from excavation prior to construction of Rutgers-Camden dormitory at 330 Cooper Street, Camden, N.J.
Rutgers University-Camden
Late nineteenth century; photograph, April 2018
Ashley Angelucci; 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.
Reconstructed glass jar, 7 inches tall and 4.5 inches wide.
Proprietary Medicine Bottle
Throughout the nineteenth century, entrepreneurs sold their own pharmaceutical concoctions without regulation. This was the business of proprietary medicine. This bottle likely contained pharmaceutical products or flavoring extract which was made using narcotics such as morphine or cocaine as the chief ingredient. The original contents of this bottle can still be seen inside, they are however, a mystery. This bottle is a mouth blown, mold pressed glass bottle. Bottles like this were mass-produced at glass factories like Whitall Tatum & Co. and Wheaton Industries in Millville, N.J., and shipped all over the United States.<br /><br /> Read more about this object: <a href="https://omeka.camden.rutgers.edu/items/show/13">https://omeka.camden.rutgers.edu/items/show/13</a>
Recovered from excavation prior to construction of Rutgers-Camden dormitory at 330 Cooper Street, Camden, N.J.
Rutgers University-Camden
c. 1800-1875; photograph, April 2018.
Will Krakower (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.
Glass bottle, 5 ¼ inches in height, including the neck (¾ inch). Base approximately 13/16 inches wide and 1-5/8 inches long.
"TD Style" White Ball Clay Pipe
Both men and women enjoyed the sweet flavors and the soothing properties of tobacco through white ball clay pipes. Clay smoking pipes are some of the first mass-produced items. Because of this mass production, clay pipes served as an affordable alternative to those who could not afford the more expensive options made of brier wood or meerschaum. Serving as a cheap way to enjoy the pleasures of tobacco, factory workers purchased these pipes one or two at a time. After a couple bowls of tobacco, the pipes would be thrown away.
Recovered from excavation prior to construction of Rutgers-Camden dormitory at 330 Cooper Street, Camden, N.J.
Rutgers University-Camden
c. 1880-1890; photograph, March 2018.
Ernie Ariens (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.
Clay "TD" style pipe, 4.5” in length.
"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.
Cooper Street Residents Database
Data about past residents of Cooper Street in Camden, N.J. (work in progress).
Camden, N.J., City Directories; U.S. and New Jersey Census; property deeds; Camden newspapers.
Rutgers University-Camden
c. 1840s-c. 2020
Compiled by Lucy Davis, Charlene Mires, and students at Rutgers-Camden.
Compiled from public sources.
Also see:<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://omeka.camden.rutgers.edu/items/show/64">Cooper Street by Block, 1839-1860 (before house numbering</a>.<br /></strong><br /><strong><a href="https://omeka.camden.rutgers.edu/items/show/63">Blocks Adjacent to Cooper Street, 1839-1860 (before house numbering).</a></strong>
<strong>Google Sheets database: <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15gz3_mGk3FcNl0TPaOZAq6B1CHvOpqRcY7a99xkp_l4/edit?usp=sharing">Link here to view</a>.</strong>
Lawrence Street Residents Database
Data about past residents of Lawrence Street, which lies within the Cooper Street Historic District in Camden, N.J. (<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oOkUYd5Qa7w5M0Ga0vWhq9evz980wMElF8jhPuw3GHM/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Link here to view</strong></a>.)
Camden, N.J. City Directories; U.S. and New Jersey Census; Camden newspapers.
Rutgers University-Camden
c. 1850-c.2010
Compiled by Kaya Durkee and Charlene Mires
Data compiled from public sources.
Also see: <a href="https://omeka.camden.rutgers.edu/items/show/62"><strong>Lawrence Street by Block, 1854-1860 (before house numbering).</strong></a>
<strong>Google Sheets database: <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oOkUYd5Qa7w5M0Ga0vWhq9evz980wMElF8jhPuw3GHM/edit?usp=sharing">Link here to data</a></strong>
Hand-Painted Sugar Box
Sugar boxes held sugar to sweeten tea and coffee or to make unpalatable wine drinkable. This nearly-intact pearlware example from the early 1800s has a hand-painted garland design.
Recovered from excavation prior to construction of Rutgers-Camden dormitory at 330 Cooper Street, Camden, N.J.
Rutgers University-Camden
c. 1815-1830; photograph July 2018.
Lucy Davis (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. <em>Phase II and Data-Recovery Archaeological Excavations of the Smith-Maskell Site Cooper Street Development Camden, New Jersey</em>. Archaeological Excavation Report, Burlington: URS Corporation.
Ceramic vessel approximately 4" tall and 5" wide.