A typical turn-of-the-century doll (photo credit Even Dankowicz, click to enlarge)
Toy Room
What was everyday life like during the early 20th century, especially for children? The Toy Room features delights such as children’s toys, books, and clothing.
Highlights
- An extensive collection of turn-of-the-century books – see what children read
- Early 20th century furniture – what would an average living room look like?
- A large collection of toy soldiers and dolls – see the predecessors of today’s plastic toys and Barbie dolls
- Woodroofe at the Museum — Louise Woodroofe (1892-1996) was a prominent local painter and an art professor at the University of Illinois. She was especially famous for her paintings of circus life — she traveled with the Ringling Brothers Circus in the 1930s. See several of Woodroofe’s paintings at the Toy Room!