At the peak of their popularity, the tintype photograph captured the blank, unfocused gaze of Civil War soldiers, along with the solemn expressions of their worried loved ones. Inexpensive, small, lightweight, and durable, several tintypes could be conveniently tucked away in a soldier’s jacket pocket, making them a favorite memento among fighting men. Read more
Tintype Photographs
At the peak of their popularity, the tintype photograph captured the blank, unfocused gaze of Civil War soldiers, along with the solemn expressions of their worried loved ones. Inexpensive, small, lightweight, and durable, several tintypes could be conveniently tucked away in a soldier’s jacket pocket, making them a favorite memento among fighting men. Read more
Paying It Forward Keeps A Hobby Alive
When attending a Civil War or Native American artifact show, I’ve grown accustom to being one of the youngest people in attendance. At nearly 40-years of age, my dark head of hair contrasts sharply against the sea of “silver foxes” and “cotton-tops” shuffling through the aisles of any given show. And to the eyes of today’s adolescent or teenager, such a scene might be enough to dissuade them from exploring no further than a quick glance up from their device! In my experience however, the welcoming generosity of others has helped usher in a new and younger demographic of collectors into this wonderful hobby. Read more
Brazil National Museum Fire: A Preventable Tragedy
One of the world’s most expansive anthropology and natural history collections was almost completely destroyed by a raging inferno this past Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Museu Nacional (National Museum) housed nearly 20 million artifacts; including mummified remains, indigenous art and artifacts, frescoes from Pompeii, fossil records, dinosaur bones, and a scientific library. Read more
Antiques Roadshow Appraisal Captions
What could possibly make Antiques Roadshow better? We’re glad you asked! Enjoy these Antiques Roadshow appraisals, made better by your friends here at RelicRecord.com. Read more
Operating Practices of Small Museums
According to the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), nearly 60% of the nation’s museums are classified as “small,” with fewer than three employees on staff. Another 21% employ 10 or less. Although small in nature, their impact on the communities they serve is immeasurable. Read more
Top-Hand Dairy and the Crystal Creamery
Growing up in Kansas, some of my fondest memories were those made on my grandparent’s farm. My grandfather worked in the oilfields, farmed, and performed other odd jobs to support his family of six. My dad, who passed several years ago, told me the story of how my grandfather helped clean up an old dairy located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma that closed in the 1960’s. Read more
American Digger Magazine’s Chattanooga Civil War Show & Sale
As a visitor to American Digger Magazine’s 1st Annual Chattanooga Civil War Show & Sale, you would have thought it was the 10th such show. The inaugural event was flawlessly executed in every imaginable facet. From the signage leading patrons to the show, the welcoming reception of those working the entrance, the well-organized layout of exhibitors, and the quality of items on display; down to the facility itself, the visitor experience was nothing short of phenomenal. Read more
Trapper Keeper Nostalgia and Profit
It’s back-to-school season. As I write this, parents are crashing the school supplies aisles in a desperate and frenzied attempt to secure every item on the teacher’s list. After all, hell has no fury like an elementary teacher scorned. While nearly every school supplies list will make mention of a binder, not a single 3-ringer can hold a candle to the greatest school binder ever created, the Trapper Keeper. Read more
3 Ways to Value Antiques & Collectibles
While the value of an antique or collectible ultimately comes down to what someone is willing to pay for it, figuring out how much that should be isn’t as straightforward as people might imagine. Why? Because an antique or collectible has three different values: its auction value, its retail value, and its insurance value. Let’s break down the differences between the three. Read more
Is it legal to collect, metal detect, or dig for artifacts?
Over the past few years, there’s been a rash of aggressive police raids and legal action taken against artifact collectors and hobbyists. This has been part of a national effort to enforce laws prohibiting private citizens from illegally obtaining and collecting cultural artifacts―predominantly Native American artifacts. Read more