A mother poses with her eight daughters in this photograph taken by John Runk circa 1911.

For details, view the photograph in our online collections database.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12, 2013.

United States Army soldier’s homemade sewing kit or “housewife” carried during World War I by James Martineau of the U.S. Army Medical Corps. The corduroy kit is lined in a polished cloth and fastens closed with a dark brown ribbon with a snap sewn to each end. It is folded three times and opens to reveal three inside pockets and a handmade image of the Sacred Heart. Some of the contents may have been added after the kit’s original period of use.

For details, view the housewife in our online collections database.

U.S. Army issue, World War I-era gas mask and carrying bag.  Also included are a metal canister of anti-dimming compound with application instructions printed on the canister, a waxed paper envelope containing an instruction card, and a split ring and pin. Worn by Corporal Frederick A. Berlin of the 3rd Pioneers, Company F.

Slice of black bread baked in Germany between 1914 and 1918. Black bread, a coarse, dark rye bread, was commonly given by Germans to their prisoners of war.

For details, view the bread in our online collections database.

United States Army officer’s folding bed (A) contained in a rectangular wood crate (B) painted black with “U.S.A. PATENTED” stamped onto its hinged lid. The folding bed has an angled iron frame with folding legs and a sprung wire sleeping surface with a handwritten label reading “Folding Officer’s Field Bed 1916″. The bed was used by either Harry Olson (possibly in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC) or by Carl Tofte.

1919 Ford Model T fire truck used by the Minnesota Forest Service and restored in 1986. The truck has a double front seat concealing a wooden box.  The box features outward-angling sideboards; a hinged drop-end gate with side pins; and oversize rubber tires with wooden rims.  A metal tool box with 16 tools  attaches to the passenger side truck box.    A detachable wooden sign attached to the truck’s rear reads, “Minn[esota] Forest Service / 1919 – First Unit.”

For details, view the truck in our online collections database.

To view more historical firefighting objects, and to learn about the dedication of the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on September 30, 2012, watch our podcast Firefighting in Minnesota: A Salute to the Fallen.

Ditty box owned by United States Navy Seaman Edward R. Stensrud.  The wooden box, originally painted red, white and blue, is now yellowed from varnish.  The box fastens with an iron clasp and contains a removable tray.  It also contains souvenirs relating to Stensrud’s WWI service and subsequent life; see 1976.28.B – 1976.28.S.  One of Stenrud’s dogtags (1976.28.S) is attached to the front of the box.  The brass hinged lid and side of the box are carved and painted with details of Stensrud’s military service, including: “E.R. / STENSRUD SK-2C / EASTLEIGH, ENG. AVN. / WORLD WAR I / 1917-1918″, “U.S. NAVY”, and  ”E.R. STENSRUD / U.S. NAVY / APRIL 19,1917 / OCT. 21, 1919 / SK 2C”.  Railway tags have been pasted on each end of the box.  One reads “London and South Western Ry / TO / GOSPORT”.

For details and additional images, view the box in our online collections database.

A group of women pose inside an art exhibition held at the Minneapolis Public Library’s art gallery at the intersection of Tenth Street and Hennepin Avenue.   Captured by an unknown photographer circa 1910.

For details, view the photograph in our online collections database.

Photograph of a cat lying down in a doll’s bed taken by Louis Enstrom in 1915.

For details, view the photograph in our online collections database.

To celebrate this year’s Minnesota State Fair, the Item of the Day blog is offering  a series of posts featuring artifacts, art and photographs from fairs past. Look for a new post every weekday until August 31.

Photograph of a bread-baking demonstration given by a Minnesota Boys and Girls Club (branch unknown) at the 1918 Minnesota State Fair.  Photographer unknown.

For details, view the photograph in our online collections database.

Learn More:

• Spectacular Fair: the Minnesota State Fair podcast
• Minnesota State Fair in Archival Film Footage podcast