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Special Exhibit: Collecting
COLLECTING: How. What. Why.
Over the past 55 years, the Johnson County Museum has collected more than 20,000 artifacts, 1.3 million photographs, and 300 cubic feet of archival material from private institutions, businesses, and individuals just like you. From stickers, maps, and household objects to an entire house, photographs, newspapers, and other archival material, these items help the Museum meet its goal of preserving and sharing the history of Johnson County, Kansas.
This companion page to our exhibit featured at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center will help you to learn more about every artifact that is pictured above. Simply click on one of the featured artifacts to see the item’s accession number, a close up photo, item name, description, and which theme in the Museum’s Collecting Plan the artifact is associated with.
- Want to learn about every item? Scroll down for more. We hope you enjoy learning more about the objects and the stories they help us tell.
Items below are listed in numerical order by their accession number.
| Accession Number | Photo | Item Name | Description | Theme |
| 1967.001.094 | Shaving Brush | Shaving brushes were common household items during the19th and 20th centuries. This particular brush belonged to Harry King, Jr., the postmaster and general store owner in Zarah, Kansas. | People/Community | |
| 1967.004.016 | Coffee Pot | This enamelware coffee pot was donated by Joan Barkley Wells of Mission during the first year of the Museum's existence. With her mother, Marguerite Barkley, these founding women collected and donated many objects to the Museum's collection. | People/Community | |
| 1967.004.045 | Irons | This arrangement of five irons from different time periods shows a change in technology over time. With the advent of the electric iron and other appliances, women's domestic work changed. | People/Community | |
| 1968.001.001 a-i | Toy | This toy stove dates to the early 20th century. Made by the Kenton Hardware Company, the "Venus" model stove was a real working miniature stove for young girls - like an early version of an Easy Bake Oven. This one belonged to a young Loretta Ensor. Loretta and her brother Marshall went on to be nationally-recognized ham radio pioneers, broadcasting from their family farm in Olathe. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 1968.048.043 b | Hairbrush | This antique hairbrush originally belonged to the Goe family of Johnson County. | People/Community | |
| 1972.029.011 | Nail Buffer | This Revlon nail buffer is made of wood, metal, leather, and plastic. It was manufactured in the United States and used in Johnson County. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 1982.004.000 | Doctor's Bag | Doctor's bags were essential accessories for physicians, especially the ones that traveled for their profession. This bag belonged to Roeland Park resident Dr. Richard L. Lehner, a staff physician, who worked at St. Luke's Hospital for 37 years. | People/Community | |
| 1987.033.197 | Quilt | This quilt's style is commonly referred to as a crazy quilt, often made from scrap material. It is attributed to the Dille family, who lived between Gardner and Edgerton, across from the Lanesfield one-room schoolhouse. Clark Dille was one of the first Johnson County commissioners. | People/Community | |
| 1987.044.010 | Leg Brace | Originally used by Dr. A.S Reece, this leg splint is an example of the medical tools and aids that were available in Johnson County during the 20th century. This is one of the many objects in the Museum's collection from Reece Hospital in Gardner, Kansas, which opened in 1934. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 1987.44.605 | Ceiling Fixture | This ceiling light fixture hung in Reece Hospital in Gardner, Kansas, operated by Dr. A.S. Reece. | Suburban Image | |
| 1988.000.370 b | Medal | The Rainbow Division, or the 42nd Infantry Division, was a military unit deployed to France during World War I. This reunion medal belonged to Johnson Countian and former Kansas Governor Frank L. Hagaman. | People/Community | |
| 1988.000.414 | Scale | The Central Scientific Company was founded in 1900 in Chicago, Illinois. Eventually, the Cenco Company became the dominating leaders in the scientific tools industry. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 1988.011.002 a-b | Floor Lamp | During the early 20th century standing electric lamps became popular in middle-class households. | Suburban Image | |
| 1989.032.015 | Trunk | Portrayed by Frank Wiziarde of Prairie Village, Kansas, Whizzo the Clown was a popular children's television character in the Kansas City metro area from 1953 to 1987. This wooden trunk is one of the props that Wiziarde and his wife created for the show's set. | People/Community | |
| 1989.039.002 a-o | Microscope | This Bausch and Lomb microscope was originally used by Dr. William C. Harkey of Gardner, Kansas. Dr. Harkey was a "horse and buggy" physician from the early 20th century. Dr. Harkey graduated from University Medical College in Kansas City in 1900, and practiced medicine until his death in 1935. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 1990.066.001 a-b | Boots | In 1875, Charles H. (C.H.) Hyer, opened the Hyer Boot Company in Olathe. The company's boots became popular nationwide because of a measuring system that allowed customers to mail order their boots by tracing their own feet. These custom boots were owned by William "Buz" McGee of Olathe. | Economy | |
| 1991.037.001 | Atlas | Atlases are useful tools for historians and researchers. This Shawnee Township map from the 1922 Atlas Map of Johnson County, Kansas, was compiled and published by the Geo. A. Ogle & Co. of Chicago and can be found within the Museum's atlas collection and on jocohistory.org. | People/Community | |
| 1991.113.002 a-d | Motion Picture Camera | During the 20th century, Kodak created this motion camera suitable for home use. Home movies became popular family mementos during this time. This 1957 8mm Brownie Movie Camera from Kodak used by the Magerl family of Overland Park. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 1993.087.032 a-nn | Paper Dolls | This pair of paper dolls were made by the Whitman Publishing Company and played with by Shawnee resident Terry Canaday, as a child. They date to the 1950s. | People/Community | |
| 1993.087.041 | Stroller | This Taylor Tot baby walker stroller was used by the Canaday family of Shawnee in the late 1950s. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 1994.138.000 | Doll High Chair | Marti Moore received this doll highchair as a Christmas present in 1954, when she was 2 or 3 years old. Marti and her family lived in Lake Quivira at the time. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 1995.071.000 c-d | Dining Chair | The Tulip Chair was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956. It is part of a Mid-century Modern style dining set, used by former county manager Gene Denton and his wife Gigi of Overland Park. | People/Community, Suburban Image, Economy | |
| 1996.046.160 | Box | This long wooden box with a hinged lid is divided into the three compartments inside. Outside, the top and front are decorated with peony flowers and foliage, done with a wood burning technique. | People/Community | |
| 1998.009.032 | Figurine | This 1957 German-made ceramic Christmas elf figurine was part of a set and owned by the Sharp family of Prairie Village. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 1999.005.002 | Lighter | Johnson County residents William and Mary Lou Akright received this sterling silver "Ronson" cigarette lighter and holder set as a wedding gift. The couple married at Kansas City's Country Club Christian Church on Ward Parkway on February 1, 1950. | People/Community | |
| 2000.036.003 a-b | Picnic Basket | Picnic baskets are iconic symbols for parks and the outdoors. This 1950s picnic basket was used by Donald and Carol Love of Overland Park. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 2001.017.040 | Sign | Employees at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant organized baseball teams, and this sign was used to communicate a rain out game. | People/Community | |
| 2002.032.004 a | Umbrella | Anne Schmidt received this brightly colored umbrella as a gift from a friend. It came packaged in a Harzfeld's box, purchased at the popular department store in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The original box is also in the Museum's collection. | People/Community, Suburban Image, Economy | |
| 2003.042.005 | Dress | During the 1950s dresses were a fashion standard for most young women. This butterfly pattern dress was originally worn to dances by Johnson Countian, Cathy Lowry. It is handmade from polished cotton and is adorned with rhinestones. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 2005.020.001 a-o | Vacuum | The electric vacuum revolutionized home cleaning. After WWII housewives in Johnson County become more dependent on themselves instead of outside help in maintaining their residences. This 1944 Hoover electric vacuum was originally owned by Britton and Sadie Powell of Westwood. | Suburban Image | |
| 2006.033.140 gg | Doll Furniture | This barrel-style light blue doll chair was donated along with a larger dollhouse furniture collection from the Jones family of Leawood. It was made in the 1940s, a time when many plastic manufacturers transitioned to non-war production. | People/Community | |
| 2007.009.001 | Doll | In 1889, Lee Jeans opened its original location in Salina, Kansas, and eventually moved operations to Merriam. To boost marketing in the 1920s, the company created the Buddy Lee doll. Buddy Lee became iconic and was in use into the 2000s. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 2008.050.001 | Clock | This vibrant and abstract Mid-century Modern style clock was used in the home of Henry and Elizabeth Hagedorn of Shawnee. | Suburban Image | |
| 2009.032.001 a-b | Bottle | During the first half of the 20th century, dairying and agriculture were important businesses in Johnson County. The Olathe View Dairy bottled their milk in clear glass bottles with a paper caps like this one. | Economy, Environment | |
| 2010.031.012 | Golf Club | The Kenneth Smith Golf Company opened in 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1935, the company relocated and began producing custom golf clubs in Shawnee, Kansas. Frank Spannraft ordered a set of custom clubs that included this handmade 9-iron while serving in the U.S. military in West Berlin, Germany, in 1947. | Suburban Image, Economy, Environment | |
| 2012.021.001 | Barometer | This barometer is attached to a plaque advertising the Tom Haskins Prescription Pharmacy of Shawnee. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 2012.026.019 a-c | Ice Skates | These ice skates were originally used by Carolyn Addington of Overland Park in the late 1950s at Antioch Park, Lake Waukomis, and King Louie West Ice Chateau. | People/Community | |
| 2012.029.041 a-d | Dolls | Mattel mass-produced the white Sunshine Family dolls (1974 - 1978) and the African American Happy Family dolls (after 1975). These dolls, as well as their accessories and booklets, were purchased at the T.G. & Y. store located at Neiman and 63rd Street in Shawnee. | People/Community | |
| 2012.039.001 a | Book | The Parade of Homes catalog, published by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, advertised ideal suburban homes to potential buyers. Each year, dozens of newly-built homes were opened as show homes around the Kansas City metro, many fully-furnished by local department stores to advertise the American Dream. | Suburban Image | |
| 2013.022.027 | Wooden Carving | This carving was made by a hired hand who worked for the Hugh White family on the Wolverine Dairy farm. The White Haven Motor Lodge was later built on the dairy site. | People/Community | |
| 2015.031.016 | Key Fob | The White Haven Motor Lodge opened in 1957 as a suburban getaway for guests and visitors. It had an iconic neon sign, displayed in the Museum today. The Motor Lodge closed in 2009. | Suburban Image, Economy | |
| 2015.038.001 a-e | Burglar Alarm | This "Crime Alert" burglar alarm was made by Electro Dynamics Corporation of Mission, Kansas for homes and businesses. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 2016.030.040 | Campaign Button | Dwight D. Eisenhower remains the only United States President from Kansas. This campaign button was from his successful presidential campaign in 1952. | People/Community, Government/Politics | |
| 2017.003.002 | Toy Truck | Originally founded as a garden tool company in 1946, Tonka Toys Incorporated began manufacturing metal toy trucks by 1955. This truck belonged to the Torchia family of Overland Park. | People/Community | |
| 2017.023.001 | Camera | This camera was used at the Metcalf South Shopping Center during the Christmas season to take photos with Santa Claus. OER manufactured commercial photographic equipment including special event cameras based on Polaroid Instant Film. Double polaroid cameras allow the photographer to take two photos with a single shot. | People/Community, Economy, Suburban Image | |
| 2017.025.002 | Lunch Box | This dome-shaped, hinged, hand painted lunch box was made for the Llewellyn family, who owned Smaks restaurants. The artwork represents the father (Ted), mother (Dottie), son Ted, and three daughters Kim, Robin, and Lynn. One of the early restaurant locations was on Johnson Drive in Mission, Kansas. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 2017.026.043 a-b | Dish | In 1915, the Pyrex Company began producing long-lasting , low-thermal glass. In the 1940s, Pyrex dishes hit the market and revolutionized cooking because they could be used in gas, electric, and coal ovens. The Torchia family of Overland Park used this casserole dish. | Suburban Image | |
| 2017.026.047 | Tricycle | This tricycle has the initials "MT" for Mark Torchia of Overland Park painted on the back in white paint. | People/Community | |
| 2017.027.002 | Motorcycle | The Johnson County Sheriff's Office used this 2004 Harley Davidson FLHPI Road King Police Motorcycle. | People/Community | |
| 2018.045.002 | Cup | This cup has the White Haven Motor Lodge logo on the front. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 2019.018.001 a-e | Personal Computer | In 1999, Apple released the iconic iMac G3, an all-in-one personal computer. The computer was designed to accommodate all at-home computer needs. This particular model was used by Mary Kay Ingenthron in her home office in Shawnee. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 2019.019.001 | Painting | In 1970, Theatre in the Park put on its first production, Mame, at Antioch Park. This painting, of Dodie Brown, the lead actress, was painted by Steve Meriwether, a student at Shawnee Mission West High School, in 1969. | People/Community | |
| 2019.031.002 | Trophy | John A. Wiedeman (1926-2015) won the Moyer Trophy for Miniature Roses in the 1990s. He grew roses as a hobby, and was president of the Northeast Johnson County Rose Society in 1999. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 2020.001.019 a-b | Cartoon | Originally built in 1953 by the Kansas City Power and Light Company, the All-Electric House is located in the Museum's signature exhibit, "Becoming Johnson County." This Bob Bliss cartoon depicts the All-Electric House's move in 2016 to the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center. Bliss was a cartoonist for The Johnson County Sun newspaper. He donated several of his original cartoons to the Museum. | People/Community | |
| 2020.003.001 | Dress | This doll dress was brought from Mexico in 1976 by the donor as a young girl immigrating to the United States with her family. Due to limited packing space, she was only able to bring this dress and had to leave her doll behind. | People/Community | |
| 2020.023.010 | Printing Block | This printing block advertised the G.C. Blucher Boot Company of Olathe. The company was founded in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1915, and moved to Olathe in 1918 or 1919, and opened across the street from the Hyer Boot Company. Blucher Boot Company closed in 1969. | People/Community, Economy | |
| 2021.011.001 | Electric Lamp | This Art Deco style light fixture is from the 1952 Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe. The building was demolished between 2019 and 2020, and a new courthouse constructed. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| 2021.031.001 a-b | Cookie Jar | This cookie jar was created by Jeanne Savage of Overland Park in a ceramics class. | People/Community, Suburban Image | |
| Call #978.1 | Book | Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History was published as a two-volume set in 1912. It was edited by Frank Blackmar, who worked at the University of Kansas for forty years. The set is in the Museum's reference collection today. | People/Community |