Horseshoe Lake, 2016

2020 Liberty Middle School Class Visit (97 total)

These artifacts were brought by students to be scanned as part of a three-day lesson offered by Madison Historical on February 5, 6, and 13, 2020 at Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville. The lesson was given five class periods of students in an American history class taught by Rachel Harris.

  • Collection: 2020 Liberty Middle School Class Visit
Thumbnail Title Description Date Date Added
1940s Chinese Luck Decoration This is a Chinese Luck Decoration from the Republic of China in the 1940s a time of economic downturn following the Great Depression, which impacted economies across the globe, including China where the artifact is from. Because of the downturned economy, decorations like this were limited. The purple beads are representative of grapes signifying wealth, while the red and gold thread is symbolic for good luck. The beads on the decoration are round and hard, while the string is soft and course at the same time.

This object was digitized as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. It was brought to class by Ivy Lin.
1940 March 4, 2020
1940s Edwardsville Creamery Milk Bottle This is an Edwardsville Creamery Milk Bottle from the 1940's. Glass milk bottles were used by delivery services to deliver milk to houses in crates daily. On the front it reads, "Property of Edwardsville Creamery Edwardsville, IL" and on the back it says, "One Quart Liquid". When people were finished with these bottles, they wouldn't always return them to Edwarsville Creamery.

This object was photographed as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. It was found and brought into class by Alessa Heiser. It was found in her backyard.
Circa 1940 March 4, 2020
1941-1945 WWII Air Force Hat This is a USAAF serviceman's hat from WWII in very good condition. The hat has white and blue stitching with a metal clip, and on the ohter is a line of white stitching crossing diagonally from the bottom up to the side. On the inside of the hat is the enlisted members last name as well as a list of ten digits. This hat belonged the great grandfather of Angelina Ball, he was a member of the "Mighty 8th." He was a doctor and flight surgeon. His rank was as a 1st lieutenant. He was stationed in Algeria and Tunisia.

This hat was photographed as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. It was brought to class by Angelina Ball.
1941 - 1945 March 4, 2020
1943 Photograph of Lester Kelley in World War II Uniform This is a picture of Lester Kelley from 1943. Kelley is the recipient of multiple military honors for active service in combat. He passed away in 2009.

This photograph was photographed as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. It was brought into class by his grandchild Camden Kelley.
1943 March 4, 2020
1944 World War II Letter Describing Rifle Pin Qualifications This artifact is a copy of a genuine letter from a U.S. soldier to his wife dated 1944-3-26. The letter describes the qualifications for a rifle pin, written by Robert Thompson while he was stationed in Germany during World War II. The two guns crossing at the top of the letter represent a rifle pin.

This letter was photographed as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. It was brought to class by Drew Murphy.
1944-3-26 March 4, 2020
1949 Argo Flex Camera This is a camera made in 1949, which was purchased in Sweden. The camera is a rectangualar black box with two lenses, one to indicate when a picture is ready to be taken and another for the photographer to look through. On the back of the camera there is a red dot that is transluscent and tells the photographer how much unused film is left in in the reel until. To spin the film the photographer turns the small knob on the right side of the camera that you turn after each picture is taken.

This camera was brought in by Sarabeth Breder as a part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in February 2020.
1949 March 4, 2020
1954 Kodak Camera This Kodak camera was produced in Rochester, New York in 1954. Cameras such as these were constructed with metal and plastic and included features such as a large bulb flash and a shutter. This specific model, the "Brownie Holiday Flash" model included connections for a detachable flash bulb. This camera was photographed as a part of Madison Historical's class visit to Liberty Middle School.

This camera was brought in by Avery Cline, who recieved it from its original owner, Wilma Cline.
1940s - 1950s March 4, 2020
1957 United States Dollar Bill This dollar bill from the year 1957 was saved by Ratcliff Scott's grandmother, who was born the same year. Scott's grandmother passed the dollar bill down to Ratcliff Scott who owned the bill as of Feburary 2020.

This currency was digitized as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. It was brought to class by Scott Radcliff.
1957 March 4, 2020
1958 Sports Review Magazine from Mount Morris, Illlinois This issue of Sports Review Magazing was Published in Mount Morris, Illinois, in 1958. The issue's special topic is on baseball. On the cover is a picture of Lew Burdette, a Milwaukee pitcher, along with a caption that reads, "Lew Burdette; the pitcher who made Milwaukee famous."The magazine has some mild cosmetic defects and wrinkles on the cover and interior pages.

This magazine was photographed as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. It was brought into class by Sydney Chong.
1958-5 March 4, 2020
1959 Abe Lincoln Gets His Chance Paperback Book This is a 1959 publication Abe Gets His Chance. The book was written by Frances Cavanah and illustrated by Don Silbey. The book is a decomissioned library book from the Hilsboro Library, located in downtown Hilsboro, IL. The book is a biography focusing on the childhood of the U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln.

This book was photographed as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. The book was brought into class by Jacob McKey.
1959 March 4, 2020