Bandboxes

By: Kajsa Sabatke, Interpretive Projects Coordinator If you visit the More House this year, you may come across a volunteer sewing together the pieces of a bandbox. The bandbox volunteer group, spearheaded by lead volunteer Martha Duke, is an enthusiastic new group at the museum. They have learned the techniques and history of bandbox-making, which they demonstrate in the sitting room of the More House. I love this new group! Not only does it add to the activity in the More House, but I’m learning new things every week about bandboxes and how they’re made. It’s also fun to see even more colorful wallpaper than already covers the walls in the house (more on the More House wallpaper in a future post). Bandboxes originally were made in England and served to store men’s detachable neck bands (collars). By the nineteenth century, Americans had adapted bandboxes to store a wide variety of hats, accessories, and other trinkets; women also used them as luggage while traveling. If you are interested in volunteering on this project, please contact our Volunteer Administrator at volunteers@nysha.org. The bandboxes are also available for sale at Todd’s General Store. Photos: Martha Duke sews together a bandbox lid in the More House sitting room, with several finished boxes in the background.