History in a Vacuum

This showcase traces the history and changing practices of cleaning carpets and floors, from carpet beaters to brooms to sophisticated vacuum cleaners. Objects on view include a 1905 Reeves hand-powered vacuum cleaner, a 1908 child's toy carpet sweeper, a 1930s Deschler "Victoria" parlor broom, a 1932 Eureka vacuum cleaner, a 1960s Jetsons comic book with Rosey the robotic maid vacuuming, and advertisements for cleaners and cleaning products promising to make a woman's work easier.