2013 - Curiosities

A tea set and book owned by Elizabeth Anna Low, Class of 1891. The white china tea cup and saucer are hand painted by Sarah Yocum with cherubs and gold stars, with gilt on the edges and tea cup handle. The tea cup and saucer are accompanied by the book with a ripped and yellowing cover titled "Tea Cup - Fortune Telling". The text on the cover reads 'No end of strange things are discussed over a cup of tea and not infrequently a talk about divination. In this book will be found more than is usually known about the art of "Tea Cup Fortune Telling."' On the back of the cover is a listing for similar publications in black text. 

A United States Navy Reserve (USNR) Dog Tag with a chain necklace attached and engraved with the text "COUTTS ALAN 647 43 68 TYPE-O T/11/43 USNR-P."

An optician's apparatus, including a a pair of fitting glasses, 24 lenses in storage boxes and two spectrum aparatuses. 

A black tin case containing an alchometer apparatus, with instructions, consisting of a glass graduated cylinder, a metal tube and clip, a small candle, a small glass orb and a glass flask. This apparatus was developed by Chemistry Professor Ernest Vuilleumier as a way to test liquids for alcohol, which could be used by law enforcement during the years of Prohibition. 

A brass medical instrument believed to have been used by Benjamin Rush to bleed his patients for medical treatments.

A Nazi Germany flag reportedly taken from Adolf Hitler's private yacht and given to Colonel William Addlemen Ganoe. The flag features a black, white and yellow swastika in the center of red fabric framed by yellow fringe. 

A short sword with a carved gray-green bone handle and a light brown embossed leather sheath.

A collapsible wooden fan with the slats connected by white fabric. On each slat there is a signature from a member of the Class of 1870.

A board game in which the objective is to lose radiation and perform a cold shut-down of a nuclear reactor. The game was created by Adam, Diane, and Edward Sandnes. The box features an illustration of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant. 

A brown leather football helmet worn by Frank E. Masland during the 1914 and 1915 football seasons.

An off-white knit wool letter sweater with a big red varsity letter "D" sewn onto the front. The sweater was worn by Edward Johnson (Class of 1932), captain of the varsity football team. 

Two small four barreled pistols, each of a different design and color of the handle, with a box containing five bullets.

The football from the Dickinson v. Penn State game, October 17, 1931.

A black leather and red velvet flip-top box with three metal feet housing eleven silver knives and two small pronged silver forks. This set was owned by John Dickinson.

A brown wooden cane with a carved white ivory handle. On the handle the inscription reads "M. Mengel. Jan 13,  1883". The cane is said to have belonged to James Buchanan.

A red and yellow cloth Soviet flag obtained during John Carr's year  studying abroad. Carr is a member of the Class of 1974.

A bronze dagger-like letter opener with the Korea University emblem enameled on top with red tassels attached on the end of the sword.

Two pairs of red painted wooden Japanese traditional footwear. One pair has a pair of plastic red and white polka dotted toe covers. There are a total of seven pairs of shoes in the collection. 

Ten pieces of various scientific glassware owned and used by John Priestley for his experiements. The set includes several clear glass test tubes, flasks, "s" tubes, and a flask with a valve.

A replica of King Solomon’s ring worn by Rev. Canon Lewis Douglas Gottschall, Class of 1922. A gold ring fitted with 10 various precious stones and weighing about a half a pound.

A four piece set of clothing and textiles given to President A. Lee Fritschler in Cameroon. Two textiles are white with red and blue stripes with a thick strip of navy cloth running through the center. The other textiles include a hat and a large shirt.

An Atari Lab starter kit developed by Priscilla Laws at Dickinson College in the early 1980's. The box set includes a catalogue and various lab equipement for young learners. What is shown includes the catalogue, an introduction information sheet, and the packaging box. Other items in the kit are currently on display and are not shown here.

Fifty-nine engraving blocks from "Fifty Printer's Marks" by Edwin Elliot Willoughby, Class of 1922.