Artifact of the Month Archive
Derringer Handgun
This handgun belonged to Ozark folklorist Vance Randolph. His good friend, journalist and historian Ernie Deane, helped Randolph acquire the gun. . . .
Tap Handle
Taking a name from a local creek, J. T. Wampler opened Tanglewood Branch Brewing Company in Fayetteville in 2011. . . .
Easter Egg
This papier maché egg probably belonged to twins Mary and Ellen Russell of Harrison (Boone County) in the early 1920s. The word “GERMANY” stamped inside the egg helps narrow down when it was made. Up until about 1920 . . .
Fireplace Tool
Gaines Tucker and his wife, Estelle “Essie” Dill West Tucker, used this handmade fireplace poker at their home in the Dean community near Metalton (Carroll County). . . .
Hardness Tester
This Rockwell hardness tester was used to determine the strength, or “hardness,” of metal. Hardness was measured by attempting to put a dent into metal . . .
Baptismal Font
This free-standing wooden font originally included a metal water basin housed under the font’s conical lid. Water from the basin was used to perform the rite of baptism . . .