Curator's Choice

Curator's C​​hoice​ is a monthly series that highlights a signifi​​cant or unusu​al artifact chosen from the MAC Lab collections by our staff. We are archiving previous selections so that you can see what is “behind-the-scenes” at the MAC Lab. We hope you enjoy learning about ​this month's distinctive artifact​​, and we welcome any additional insight you can provide us with the objects.

​​ ​​

Come back and discover what piece of the past we have to share with you next month!

From the list below, select a year to jump to that year's list of Curator's Choice issues.


Jump to Year:       2024   2023   2022   2021   2020   2019   2018   2017   2016   2015   20​14   2013   2012   2011   2010   2009   2008

​​Date
​Topic​Author

2024 I​ssues​

​​March
Making Music: A Family Affair​​
Alexandra Glass​
​​​​February
Ivory ID
Nichole Doub​
​​January
“Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized”: The Oxon Hill Wine Rinser​​
Patricia Samford

2023 I​ssues​

​​​​December
"Under the Umbrella"
H​eather Rardin Rovardi
​​November​
The Domino Effect
Rebecca Morehouse​​​
​​​​October
A Little Sheep-ish
Alex Glass
​​September​
Sharp Thinking
Arianna Johnston​​
​​​​August
A Better Light
Jennifer Pitts​​​
​​July​
Not an Average Day in Collections: A "Golden Medical Discovery"
Megan Kearns​​
​​​June
This Bottle Belonged To...?
Sara Rivers Cofield​​
​​May
Roughing It: A Wagon Rough Lock from The City of Deadwood
Monica Kitner​​
​​​April
"Did You Try Licking It?": How To Sort Artifacts In The Field
Scott Strickland​
​​March
Electrolysis PSA
Nichole Doub
​​​February
Bomb's Away! A Different Kind of Grenade
Patricia Samford
​​January
Bones and Boar Bristles: Turn of the Century Dental Detailing
Patricia Samford

​2022 Issues

​​December Supply Chain Problems? Nailed it!
Sara Rivers Cofield
​​November Turkey Tales: What Archaeological Turkey Bones Can Tell Us
Alex Glass
​​October The Tortoise and the Hair
Nichole Doub
September The Sulphide, the Most Prized Marble of Them All
​Rebecca Morehouse
​​August “​​I always carried my little Book with me”: Aide-mémoire Hardware from Saunders Point
H​eather Rardin Rovardi
July Biblical Bling: A Crown of Thorns Pendant and Maryland's 1689 Protestant Revolution
​Sara Rivers Cofield
​​June A Token for a Pint
​Alice Merkel
May Artful Appliance
​Monica Kitner
April The Volunteers Find All the Cool Stuff
​​Scott Strickland
​​March Perukes and Bilboquets: Wig Making in Annapolis
Rebecca Morehouse​​
​​​February X-rays: Unveiling a Fashion Accessory
​Arianna Johnston​​​
​​January Making Mocha--Not a Coffee You Would Want to ​Drink
​Patricia Samford​​

2021 Issues

​December ​O Holy Night SoilSara Rivers Cofield
​November ​Small Beads in Big SpacesScott Strickland
​October ​An Amelung Decanter?Patricia Samford​
​SeptemberCannons, Cannons, and More Cannons​Nichole Doub
​AugustSpit Take:  Cuspidor versus Spittoon​​Patricia Samford​
​JulySunflowers​​Alex Glass
​June ​Let No Man Thirst For Good Beer​Patricia Samford​
​May ‘​​Not One Cent’: The Satirical Life and Times of the Hard Times Token​​Monica Kitner
​April ​A Familiar Face​Alice Merkel
​MarchHoodoo Alive and Well in Mid-20th Century Annapolis​Rebecca Morehouse​
​​FebruaryPeople and Pets as Property: An Exploration of a Collar ​​​​Sara Rivers Cofield
​January ​Brass in Pocket: A Button Legacy​Heather Rardin Rovardi

2020 Issues

​December ​A Tale of Two Fossils​​Nathaniel Salzman
​November Overturning Every Stone​​Alice Merkel ​
​October The Load I Carry: A Knapsack Hook from Pt. Lookout​​Heather Rardin Rovardi
​​September  ​The Life Saving Lyle Gun​Nichole Doub
​AugustSugar Nippers ​​Patricia Samford​​
​July ​​What's the Point​​Greg Pierce
​JuneHave You Seen the Great German Cask?​  ​Patricia Samford​
​MayCrimping a Pie’s Style!​​​Rebecca Morehouse
​AprilSergeant Jacob Huyett’s Cavalry Helmet​​Francis Lukezic
​MarchKeeping Everything From Going Adrift​​​Alice Merkel 
​FebruaryGetting a Handle on a Mystery​Sara Rivers Cofield​
​January A Bank You Can “Bank” On ​​​​​​​Patricia Samford

2019 Issues

​December ​A Mighty Fine-Toothed Friend   ​​Alice Merkel
​NovemberThe Accessorized Mariner ​​​​Patricia Samford
​October An 18th-century French Caribbean Coin in Baltimore​ ​Rebecca Morehouse​
​September World War II M2 Sea Mine and Anchor​​​Heather Rardin
​AugustDecade Ring​Laura Masur
​July Button Rings and Other ThingsSara Rivers Cofield​​
​JuneDriving Through History in Deadwood, South Dakota​Francis Lukezic
​MayBlades of Glory​Edward Chaney
​April Fish in a Barrel​Monica Kitner
​March A Tisket, a Tasket, a Beaded Wire Basket​Sara Rivers Cofield
​February Early-17th-century-Trading-Post.html​​​Rebecca Morehouse
Jan​uary​Culinary BottlePatricia Samford​​

2018 Issues

​December You Never Know What You're Going To Find​Ed Chaney
​November The Junior G-Man Badge​Gareth McNair-Lewis
​OctoberPerpetual Calendar​Nichole Doub
​September ​Whale Oil Lamp​Patricia Samford
​AugustThe Curious Inner Lives of Cannons​Heather Rardin
​July ​Bennington Parian: A Look at Exquisite Craftsmanship​Sara Franklin
​JuneA Bone Sewing Stiletto​Patricia Samford
​MayClothed in Splendor: Mass-Produced Coffin Hardware of the 19th Century ​Mari Hagemeyer
​AprilToy Soldiers on Parade​Francis Lukezic
​March Stumbling Upon a Storage Chest​Sara Rivers Cofield
​FebruaryA Taste for Classicism​Seth Williams
January​Spill Vase​Patricia Samford

2017 Issues

2017 HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL CURATOR'S CHOICE ​
​DecemberNot Just Another Marginal Artifact​Ed Chaney
​NovemberThe Carroll “Dynasty” and the Mysterious “Falcon Crest” Fork​Sara Rivers Cofield
​OctoberForget Me Not Mustache Cup​Patricia Samford
​SeptemberBald Friar Petroglyphs- Maryland’s Forgotten Rock Art​Julie Flynn
​AugustSmelling Sweet, Mid-19th-Century Style​Richie Diguiseppe and Dalton Woody of Huntingtown High School Archaeology Club
​July Cock Your Hat - Angles are Attitudes​Nichole Doub
​June ​Pig Iron Bar with Runners from Antietam Furnace Iron Works​Gareth McNair-Lewis
​MayA "Whale of a Well-Shaped Waist, 19th-Century Style​Patricia Samford
​AprilA Fishy Find​Francis Lukezic
​MarchPop Culture, Nineteenth-Century Style:The Lady of the Lake​Patricia Samford
​FebruaryUnder the Microscope: A Nineteenth-Century Flea Glass​Patricia Samford
Jan​uaryTaking the discipline at St. Inigoes Plantation-A Cilice from Priest’s Point​Laura E. Masur

2016 Issues

​December ​Candle In The Wind (Or Actually, In The Ground)​Edward Chaney and Alexandra Glass
​November A US 1828 pattern Bayonet Scabbard Belt Plate​Gareth McNair-Lewis
​October Ghostly Glass-Uranium Glass​Annette Cook​
​September A Day at the Beach - Ruby Stained Souvenir GlasswareErin Wingfield
​August The Acteon Carronade​Caitlin Shaffer​
​JulyPassion Subdued by ReasonPatricia Samford​
​June Archaeological Evidence of Formal Gardens Found at the Belair Mansion in Bowie, MD​Alex Glass
​May Functional and Stylish: A Cast Iron Franklin Stove from Catoctin Iron Furnace​Francis Lukezic
​April Scripture in Iron: Pennsylvania German Stove Plates from Antietam Furnace​Rebecca Morehouse
​March Carlyle WarehouseNichole Doub
​FebruaryA Campaign Button of the 18th-Century (Or was it?)​Sara Rivers Cofield
Jan​uaryRoast Turkey; Seventeenth-Century StylePatricia Samford

2015 Issues

2015 HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL CURATOR'S CHOICE​
​December Ice Skating Through the Ages​​Caitlin Shaffer
​November A Pewter Spoon from the Smith St. Leonard Site​Gareth McNair-Lewis​
​October The Mystery of Stiegel-Type Glassware​Erin Wingfield
​September Lessons for ChildrenMadison Pearson
​August The Perfect Dose​Isaiah Johnson
​JulyRemembering the Maine​Patricia Samford
​June Buying Local: 18th-century Chesapeake Stoneware​Alex Glass
​May Smoking in Life and in the Hereafter: A Chinese Water Pipe from Deadwood, SD​Francis Lukezic
​April The Badge of a US Cavalry OfficerNichole Doub
​March Just Say No To Natty Bo - A Temperance Society TeacupPatricia Samford and Teresa Piovesan​
​February Evidence Of An African Instrument In Colonial Maryland?​Rebecca Morehouse​
Jan​uary The Buckle GenericSara Rivers Cofield

2014 Issues

​2014 HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL CURATOR'S CHOICE
​DecemberI LOVE Your Hair!​Edward Chaney
​November Iron Draw Knife from the Jackson Homestead (18MO609)​Gareth McNair-Lewis
​October Some Objects Lead an Interesting Life: A Tale of Dr. Samuel Mudd's Tea and Coffee Service​Francis Lukezic
​SeptemberThe Rise and Fall of the Green Fairy​Annette Cook
​August The Allure of French Perfume​Patricia Samford​
​July Maryland's Oil FieldsNichole Doub​
​June Tool Check Tag​Patricia Samford
​May Bavarian Black Buttons​Sara Rivers Cofield​
​April Snake Oil and Magic Potions: Fooling the Public with Cure-alls and QuackeryErin Wingfield​
​March Wear For My Sake - A Mourning Ring Fragment from Smiths St. LeonardAlex Glass​
​February The Rise of Balloon Flight​​Caitlin Shaffer​
Jan​uary A Humans Best - and Oldest - Friend​Rebecca Morehouse​

2013 Issues

​2013 HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL CURATOR'S CHOICE
​DecemberThe Line of Sight: A Brief History of EyeglassesChristy Nisbet​
​November Punch-Decorated Door Latch Bar from Smith St. Leonard Site​Gareth McNair-Lewis
​October Murder in Maryland: "Devills" Masquerading as Colonial Gentlemen​Erin Wingfield
​September Take a Closer Look at this 18th-Century Needle Case Telescope​Sara Rivers Cofield​
​August Use A Bottle, Save a Breast!Makenli Essert
​July ​Fourth of July for the HarmonicaVirginie Ternisien​
​June Mysterious Lead Objects from Smith St. Leonard​Annette Cook​
​May Go Figure!​Nichole Doub​
​April Peas, Beans, Corn and Wheat​Alex Glass
​March Erin Go Bragh! "Home Rule" Tobacco Pipes and Ireland's Struggle for IndependenceRebecca Morehouse​
​February Who Bit the Bullet?: Let Slip the Pigs of War!​Edward Chaney
Jan​uary "Buttons to Trim the Coat in the Manner I Wish It to Be"​Caitlin Shaffer

2012 Issues

​December ​The Bond Street German Jeton​Heather Rardin
​November Anyone for a Game of Ring Taw?Patricia Samford​
​October The Disturbing History of DenturesErin Wingfield​
​September The Personal Touch​Annette Cook
​AugustThe Mystery of Lake George​Sharon Osofsky
​JulyA Colonial Side SaddleSara Rivers Cofield
​June ​Camden Yards Piano BabyPatricia Samford ​
​May Baltimore Rockingham Hunt Pitcher​Patricia Samford​
​April Natural Approaches To Pest Management​Erin Wingfield​
​March The Smith's-St. Leonard FanAlex Glass​
​February The Inkhorn​​Patricia Samford
Jan​uary Much Ado About AsphaltEdward Chaney​

2011 Issues

​December ​Timekeeping in the 18th Century​Rebecca Morehouse
​November ​Dazzling Duds-Metal Thread in the 17th Century​Sara Rivers Cofield
​October Signed, Sealed, Delivered​Nichole Doub
​September Holey Molar!​Annette Cook
​August An Apothecary Weight​Alex Glass​
​JulyAn Accokeek Pot​Caitlin Shaffer
​June The Harquebus BarrelNancy S. Shippen​
​May ​Ivory and Silver Walking Stick HandlePatricia Samford​
​AprilNative American Effigies​Erin Wingfield
​March The Real Reason Maryland Fans Hate Duke​Edward Chaney
​FebruaryNo Curator's Choice​
Jan​uaryNative American Gaming Stones​Rebecca Morehouse

2010 Issues

​DecemberSacred Silver: A Cross-Shaped Reliquary Pendant​Sara Rivers Cofield 
​November Flintlock Pistol's Grotesque Butt CapKelly Cooper
​October A "Wellth" of History​Sami Allen
​September PattensPatricia Samford
​August Flintlock Gun Part​Annette Cook
​July Pierced Silver Coin​Alex Glass
​JuneIt's All in The Details-Regimental Buttons from Valley Forge​Nancy S. Shippen
​MayA Carved Bone Figure​Dennis C. Curry and Maureen Kavanagh
​April ​The Easter Egg Cache​Sara Rivers Cofield
​March The Cost of a Pretty Penny​Kenya Brown Fusciello
​February Fake Treasure​Nichole Doub
Jan​uary Rachel Was Here​Annette Cook

2009 Issues

​December ​A Colonial Collection of Native American Artifacts​Sami Allen
​NovemberB & O Railroad Plate​Patricia Samford
​October Bannerstones​Edward Chaney
​September Havre de Grace Cannon​Caitlin Shaffer
​August Witch Bottle​Rebecca Morehouse
​July Smith/St.Leonard Chafing Dish​Alex Glass
​JuneCopper Points from Posey Site​Sara Rivers Cofield
​May ​Civil War Canteen ​Nancy S. Shippen
​AprilArtifact of An Archaeologist​Erin Wingfield
​March Horne Point Fireback​Nichole Doub
​FebruarySaint Benedict Medal​Erin Wingfield
Jan​uaryA Model 1855 Bayonet​Gareth McNair-Lewis

2008 Issues

​December ​Popes Creek Pottery Vessels​Edward Chaney
​November Friderich Emich Medallion​Erin Wingfield
​October Jamestown Project​Kenya Brown Fusciello
​September Writing SlatePatricia Samford​
​August Rebecca Addison's Silver Thimble​Sara Rivers Cofield
​July The CSS Alabama Dishes​Caitlin Shaffer
​June​​ Decorated Bone Pin​Rebecca Morehouse
​MayTriangular Bit Smoking Pipe​Edward Chaney
​April Columbus Paddle Wheel​Kathy Concannon
​March Inscribed "SS" Bodkin​Sara Rivers Cofield
​February Tam O'Shanter Jug​Patricia Samford
Jan​uaryModified Cowrie ShellPatrica Samford
​​ ​​

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