Name/Title
Hat box from "Florence Roskein" of MillburnEntry/Object ID
2011.065.001BDescription
Round, lidded, cardboard hat box marked "Florence Roskein; 344 Millburn Avenue; Millburn, N.J." Lid is white with rose/pink lettering and pink around outside edge. Base is faded pink with a gold cord (for carrying the box) threaded through the base. Bottom of the base is (unfaded) bright pink. The box has light overall soiling and wear, especially at the edges. There is a 2" split in the cardboard of the base, at the point where one side of the gold carrying cord emerges through a brass rivet. There is a crease beyond the split. A description of the donation was posted to the Feb. 7, 2011 online Patch news website at:
https://patch.com/new-jersey/millburn/local-history-in-search-of-roskein
and stated: "Many times Millburn artifacts come to the collection of the from places far removed from Millburn. The most recent addition to the collection came from Baltimore courtesy of Carl Mink of . This Florence Roskein hat box was found—and purchased—by Carl's sister and was donated by Carl to the historical society. Because of Millburn's long history of millinery-related businesses, the society has a collection of hatters' diaries, hats, hat boxes and other items from Millburn Township businesses. But the Florence Roskein item was a new addition and name. Museum volunteer Anna Gracey looked through the society's collection of directories, which record all local residents and businesses, but the closest Roskein she found was David Roskein in South Orange in 1957. No Millburn business by that name was found in any of the directories...(but a search of) other online databases turned up a small 1999 notice of the death of Florence Roskein, "wife of the late David Roskein," so it seems the South Orange David Roskein was the husband of Florence." Note that since that Patch article was written, a reference to Florence Roskein's hat shop was found online in a 1954 Springfield newspaper.Acquisition
Accession
2011.065Source or Donor
Carl Mink