Public history students “Open the Toybox”

From hand-sewn baseball gloves of yesteryear to the mass-produced Etch A Sketch® that was the “must-have” toy of the 1960s, classic toys are on display at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. The exhibit, Open the Toybox: Discover a World of Play, is open now until September 5.

Showcasing toys from 1850 to 1970, the exhibition evokes memories of rainy days and long summer afternoons in the sunshine as it explores the history of creations designed to spark imagination.

Open the Toybox features homemade heirlooms, hand painted antiques and even mass-produced icons. Patrons can view historical artifacts and play with their modern-day replicas as they explore the evolution of toys and their role in society.

The exhibit was created by graduate students in the Wright State Public History Program, in conjunction with the Collections Department of the Dayton Society of Natural History. The students researched, designed and installed the exhibit as part of a class called “Museum Exhibits and Interpretation.”

Public history is the practical use of historical understanding and methodological skills outside the academic world. It fosters a critical analysis of all facets of the past, lends itself to any endeavor that requires historical knowledge and seeks to create a useful history for all segments of the public.

Public historians find careers as museum curators, archivists, preservationists, genealogy experts, historical society directors and more.