| The Johnson County Museum collection includes more than 15,000 objects and
over 50,000 photographs. The museum continues to collect items that have a direct connection to Johnson County history--objects that were manufactured or used in the county, that have a direct connection with historical events that occurred here, or which belonged to Johnson County residents. Besides objects and photographs, the museum also may be interested in acquiring written or printed materials, including such items as letters, manuscripts, pamphlets and programs.
The Museum's Collection Committee makes final decisions about which items to accept for the collection. When considering potential donations, the
committee considers the item's connection to Johnson County history, the physical condition of the item, and whether the Museum's collection already includes similar things. Donors must be willing to make their donation as an unconditional gift to the Johnson County Museum. In the case of photographs, originals may be returned to the donor after photographic copies are made for the museum collection.
Additionally, the museum is looking for specific items for display
in The 1950s All-Electric House. Built in 1954, the All-Electric House
was advertised as a "place of comfort and convenience." Emery, Bird,
Thayer -- Kansas City's landmark department store -- developed a
complete furnishing plan for the house for the six-month it was open
to the public as a model home. The museum is still in need of a
number of items on that original inventory list. All items must date
from 1954 (or early 1950s), and be in good condition.
If you would like to discuss a possible donation to the Johnson
County Museum, contact the Curator of Collections at 913-715-2550 or
jcmuseum@jocogov.org.
The 1950s All-Electric House Wish List:
1) Living Room/Dining Room
- Dark wood desk with leather top; desk chair
- Desk set: pad, blotter, letter, letter opener
- Shaeffer pen set with stand
- Brass desk lamp
- End table with built-in Sylvania radio
- Two sideboards (dark wood): each is about the size of a nightstand and has four drawers with brass pulls
- Wall clock: round with dark wood frame
- Wall barometer
- Pewter pitcher and tray
- Pewter tea pot and tray
2) Bathroom
- Mirror-covered wastebasket and tissue box cover
3) Den
- Two framed pictures depicting coach and horses
4) Master Bedroom
5) Kitchen
6) Utility Room
- Westinghouse 40- or 50-gallon water heater: Metal with white enamel finish, "Countertop" style (size and shape of a portable dishwasher)
7) Garage
- Two galvanized garbage cans with lids: one 5-gallon, one 30-gallon
- One 5-foot ladder
- One 8-foot ladder
- Two rubber garden hoses
- Two nozzles
- Two sprinklers
- Hand tools: keyhole saw, carpenter's brace with wood bit set, 6" & 10" screwdrivers, wood chisels, jack plane, carpenter's square, carpenter's level, carpenter's hammer, 8" crescent wrench, 14" pipe wrench, lawn rake
8) Patio
- Metal umbrella table with red umbrella
- Metal chaise lounge
9) Books (Author and Date Published given where known)
- America is West
- Apostles of Discord
- Applied Economic Analysis (1948)
- Balanchine's Complete Stories of the Great Ballets (1954)
- Bedside Coronet (1952)
- Birds Wild & Free by A. W. P. Robertson (1950)
- Cheaper by the Dozen (1949)
- The Chip on Grandma's Shoulder by Robert Keith Lippincott (1954)
- Complete Book of Bulbs by Rockwell & Grayson (1953)
- Complete Jefferson by Saul Padover (1943)
- Cress Delahanty by Jessamyn West (1953)
- Dear Dorothy Dix by Harnett Kane (1952)
- Desperate Moment by Martha Albrand (1951)
- Drawn from Memory by John T. McCutheon (1950)
- End of the World
- Fanfare for 2 Pigeons by H. W. Heinsheimer (1952)
- Far, Far From Home
- Flying Saucers Have Landed by Leslie & Adamski
- Flying Saucers from Outer Space by Kehoe
- Galileans
- Giant by Edna Furber
- Girls from Esquire
- Good Home Cooking
- Greatest Book Ever Written
- Great Enterprise
- Great Iron Ship
- How to Raise Your Own Salary by Napolean Hill (1954)
- Humanity & Happiness
- Hungry Man Dreams by Margaret Lee Rumbeck (1952)
- Information Please Almanac
- Jehovah Blues by Marguerite Steen (1952)
- Leaving Home
- Letter to Lord Byron
- Madrigols Magic Key Spanish
- Man from Turkish Slave by Victor Canning (1954)
- Moses
- The Night the Old Nostalgia Burned by Sullivan (1948, 1954)
- Number Nine
- On Green Carpet
- Peace with God
- Proud Retreat
- Rainbow on Road
- Russia: What Next
- Sagebrush Casinos by Oscar Lewis (1953)
- Second Happiest Day by John Pillips (1950)
- Some Enchanted Evenings
- Stunt Book
- Sunset Torch
- Tito
- Tornadoes of U.S.
- Vandenberg Papers
- We Survived
- Websters Collegiate Dictionary
- The West Pier
- Your Trip to Britain
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