Gown worn by Mary McAllister Beaver to her husband's Inaugural in 1887. James A. Beaver served as the Governor of Pennsylvania from 1887 until 1891. Catalogue number 65.99 ©SMPA

More than thirty-two thousand artifacts from the eighteenth century through the twentieth century reside within the Community & Domestic Life Collection. Both the ordinary and the exquisite are included. The collection encompasses textiles: clothing, quilts, coverlets, samplers and other needlework; folk art; silver and pewter teapots, tankards and flatware; glassware; ceramics: redware, stoneware, Majolica, Tucker porcelain and Chinese Export ware; furniture, cast iron stove plates; lamps such as fat, oil and kerosene; household objects: kitchen ware, vacuum cleaners, irons; architectural pieces such as mantels, doorframes, windows, hinges and locks; paper items: PA German fraktur, advertisements, pamphlets and needlework patterns; and material relating to social organizations such as the Girl Scouts.

Administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. ®2005 SMPA Terms of Use/Copyright