The New England editor might be using a pen in his portrait, but he would have typed final copy for the newspaper. Follow our Typewriter Trail to explore ideas around the use of the typewriter.

Turn of the twentieth century scientists loved to classify objects they found in the natural world. Their task was to examine the object and type out a description of all they observed and discovered (saw, felt, measured, and deduced) about it. These observations typed neatly for reference helped other researchers add to what had already been learned. The typewriter itself was not a “Eureka!” invention. It took inventors more than fifty years to create a machine that was easy to use and fit the needs of the public.

In the Curator’s Office, you will find a bunch of specimens in the desk that need classification. How would you describe them?

Go ahead and roll in a piece of letterhead and type out your own collection record. Then take it home or leave it for the next curator.