photograph: Cowgirl Detroit July 1956

One of a large group of play-related photographs gifted to The Strong in 2018. These include playful images from two generations of a Michigan family and illustrate activities such as sports and traditional games, but also show play with specific playthings found in the museum collections. The donor's father built several toys by hand including a small ride-on toy, a wood toy ironing board and a toy cupboard. But commercial toys featured in the photos range from well-known dolls to Nylint trucks. Many of the images show typically proud children on Christmas morning, but others demonstrate rarer and less well-documented forms of play such as backyard camping, playing at adult sports like golf, dress-up, and a mock wedding.