It is not uncommon to put things in pockets and then forget about them. Who hasn’t found money in the pocket of a coat after not wearing it for ages? Occasionally, we also find things in the pockets of clothing items donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota. As expected, handkerchiefs and gloves are the most common, but every so often something a little more interesting shows up.

This cute green wool coat was made by Steve Abraham, uncle of Carol Sieler. Sieler purchased the materials for the coat but didn’t have the time to make it herself. When her uncle, a professional tailor, was visiting he offered to make the coat for her. Armed with just a few measurements and a general description of a clutch coat with no buttons, he designed and sewed the coat. After wearing it, however, Sieler realized she needed buttons and asked a local seamstress to add buttonholes and buttons. Her uncle was very disappointed when he found out because these were not tailored buttonholes as he would have made.

Sieler’s story gave us great history behind the coat, but it was a fun surprise when we found money in one pocket. While only a dime, the discovery reminded me of the advice women were given prior to cellphones to always carry a dime (and later a quarter) to use in a pay phone in case they needed to call for help.

This green coat was tailor-made by the donor’s uncle in 1984. Found in the pocket: a single dime, which at one time was enough for a phone call. SHSND 2018.39.1

During World War I standard rations for American troops included cigarettes. Smoking helped to pass the time and was thought to help calm the nerves of soldiers in combat. This might explain why we found the remnants of a cigarette pack and two wooden matchsticks in the back pocket of a pair of U.S. Army uniform pants. This pair of pants was worn by Ralph J. Rubish of Fairmont. He enlisted May 5, 1917, at Wahpeton and was sent overseas Dec. 14, 1917, serving on the front line with Company I, 164th Regiment, 41st Infantry Division. Rubish survived the war and returned to farm in Richland County. He died in 1961 when he was 62.

The finds in this World War I uniform attest to a time when smoking was a widely practiced pastime. SHSND 15303.2

Blizzards in North Dakota are not uncommon and make travel difficult. In 1904, Henry H. Nelson and his mother got off the train in Streeter, expecting to be met by his uncle Charles Halvorson. But a blizzard kept Halvorson from meeting the train, forcing the family to find a hotel room for the night. The next day, wearing this raccoon fur coat, Halvorson arrived in Streeter with a sleigh and team of horses. Nelson said that he and his mother were wrapped up in bison robes while Halvorson, snug in his coat, led the team on foot through a blizzard across the prairie to his sod home. When our agency received the coat, we found two blocks and many smaller chunks of pressed tobacco in the pockets. Halvorson could have been a smoker and wanted to be prepared in case he got caught out in a blizzard. But the tobacco found in each pocket suggests it was placed there as an attempt to keep moths out of the fur. Using tobacco as a pest repellent was not uncommon in the past, though it actually attracts bugs, not repels them.

Our curators found chunks of pressed tobacco (right) in the pockets of this lovely fur coat. SHSND 2023.8.1

In 1970, Jane Nissen made an adorable coat for her daughter Susan Nissen. Susan, who grew up in Fargo, tells us that her mother was not only talented but also frugal. The outer cloth was recycled from a woman’s coat, and the lining was from a man’s overcoat. The coat design was based on one her mother saw in a Sears catalog. In the left breast pocket, we found a sticker in the shape of lips with the text, “Beauty shop ladies like red shiny lips.” There was no indication where Susan picked up this sticker but maybe it was a reward for being good while her mother spent time at a beauty shop.

We found a saucy sticker in a pocket of this 1970 coat. SHSND 2016.33.20

According to the backstory of the apron pictured below, the cloth was made in Germany in 1834 and brought to America in 1868. But the apron was sewn and embroidered with a chain stitch sewing machine. Chain stitch embroidery machines weren’t available until 1868. So while the cloth might have been made in Germany, the apron was most likely created later in the United States.

What is even more interesting is what we found in the pocket: a note and a dried geranium leaf. The note tells us that the leaf was taken from a plant salvaged by W.P. Duruz, a professor at Oregon State College (now Oregon State University). Duruz was the chief food and agricultural officer with the Third Army after World War II when he “liberated” the geranium from Adolf Hitler’s garden at Berchtesgaden. He donated the plant to Oregon State College. The undated note, written sometime prior to June 1960 when we received the apron, also states the geranium was blooming profusely in its new home. Unfortunately, we don’t know how or why Mrs. Hugh White of Pierre, South Dakota, ended up with the leaf or what connection the apron has to North Dakota.

The geranium leaf and note found in this apron’s pockets hold a fascinating connection to World War II. SHSND 14585.1-.2

As you can see from these examples, the contents of pockets can tell us a bit about the person who wore the garment or a little about the times in which the garment was worn. But even when only a sidenote to history, items in pockets are always a fun find for curators.

Pyrex kitchenware is near and dear to my heart. I personally started collecting pieces over a decade ago when my mother gifted me my grandmother’s turquoise Butterprint Cinderella bowl. Growing up, that bowl was frequently on the supper table filled with mashed potatoes or cucumber salad. Now it’s a treasure in my home used to serve my own family.

Who knew this Butterprint Cinderella bowl would spark my lifelong passion for Pyrex?

During my first tour of the museum collections after starting work at the State Historical Society in fall 2023, I was surprised to find a few sets of Pyrex in primary colors on the shelves. While I use my Pyrex daily, I had not taken the time to consider the impact of 1940s and 1950s Pyrex. I decided to dig beyond the surface beauty of these vibrantly colored bowls and discover how Pyrex revolutionized kitchens across the United States.

In my research I was excited to find that the Corning Museum of Glass in New York had extensively blogged about this very topic and even had an exhibition at that museum titled “America’s Favorite Dish: Celebrating a Century of Pyrex.” The Pyrex brand celebrated 100 years in 2015.

The Birth of Pyrex

Before diving into the kaleidoscopic range of this colorful kitchenware, we should understand Pyrex's origins. According to the Corning Museum of Glass, the Pyrex brand was introduced by Corning Glass Works (now Corning Inc.) in 1915. Initially, Pyrex was marketed as laboratory glassware, prized for its ability to withstand extreme temperature changes without breaking. The transition from laboratory to kitchenware was spearheaded by Bessie Littleton, wife of Corning scientist Jesse Littleton. After successfully baking a cake in a sawed-off battery jar, she inspired Corning to produce bakeware for the home cook.

In the late 1920s, Corning hired Lucy Maltby, a full-time scientist and home economist, to evaluate their products. Her work in the test kitchen resulted in a redesign of Pyrex bakeware: Handles were added, pan volume increased, and the bakeware’s diameter was adjusted so two cake pans could fit side by side in a standard oven. Maltby was an advocate for the consumer, her influence was everlasting.

Pyrex bread or loaf pan, 1950-1960. SHSND 2018.98.11

Pyrex quickly became a staple in the home, with ads assuring “no home can have too much Pyrex.” Its extensive line of platters, baking dishes, serving bowls, ramekins, tea pots, and measuring cups began popping up in department stores. You can see more wonderful examples of vintage Pyrex advertising on The Corning Museum of Glass website.

According to the company, Pyrex nursing bottles appeared on the scene in 1923. These baby bottles, fitted with a rubber nipple, were designed to be safely sterilized in boiling water to provide protection against germs.

8 Oz. Narrow Neck Pyrex Nursing Bottle, 1947-1956. SHSND 1986.173.209

Introducing Color: The Famous Four-Piece Mixing Bowl Set

Pyrex's initial offerings were clear glass, which while functional lacked the decorative appeal that would later define the brand. In the period following World War II, Pyrex began to develop products in opalware, a white opaque glass. It was hygienic, easy to clean, versatile, and a workhorse in the kitchen.

Then came color.

In 1945, Corning transformed kitchen aesthetics by applying colors to their opalware Pyrex bowls. The iconic four-piece Pyrex mixing bowl sets in primary colors stormed into kitchens. Each bowl was designed to nest perfectly within the other for easy storage. The smallest bowl was blue, followed by red, green, and yellow.

These colors reflected the postwar era's vibrant, forward-looking spirit. The set became a feature in many American households, cherished not only for its functionality but also for its beauty.

Pyrex mixing bowl set, Primary Colors, 1940-1950. The mixing bowl set in the State Museum’s collection is missing the small blue bowl. Given the wear on the bowls, it is clear this set was well used. SHSND 2018.98.1-3

Beyond the Mixing Bowls

While the mixing bowls were the stars, the Pyrex line quickly expanded to include refrigerator dishes, casseroles, and pie plates, also in primary colors. The refrigerator dishes, with their snug-fitting lids, were particularly popular, as they addressed a common need for food storage in an era before plastic containers became commonplace.

Pyrex Refrigerator Dishes, Primary Colors, 1950-1959. These dishes are smartly made, stacking neatly atop one another to conserve precious refrigerator space. SHSND 2013.92.49-51

Pyrex dishes were created with the mantra “bake, serve, store.” These products were more than just pretty; they were also durable and resistant to thermal shock. This meant they could go from the fridge to the oven to the table, a versatility that was revolutionary at the time. Hostess sets allowed for baking scalloped dishes in the large bowl, while individual meat pies or desserts could be prepared and served in the ramekins.

Hostess Covered Casserole and Table Set in red, 1949-1953. SHSND 2018.98.4

A Lasting Legacy

Pyrex has continually adapted to meet the tastes and needs of its consumers. After the Primary Color sets came the rise of patterns on turquoise and pink backgrounds in the 1950s, then earthy tones with bold designs in the 1960s and 1970s. The 1980s gave way to simple floral motifs and a more contemporary feel. Then came the clear glass revival of the 1990s, and what is old is new again. Today, Pyrex has a whole world of shapes, sizes, and colors to discover.

As we look back on the legacy of Pyrex, it’s clear these pieces are more than just kitchenware. They are symbols of a time when innovation met artistry, creating products that were both functional and delightful. There’s no denying the charm and historical significance of these colorful kitchen treasures.