Handbag for afternoon or evening use. Frame of simulated tortoiseshell, carved and with openwork, with ball/snap closure and chain. Body of bag is of beige fabric with multi-colored petit-point embroidery of a bouquet of flowers. Floral motif on bag in grey, greens, blues, pinks and rose. Lined in rose ribbed silk, and contains a change purse and mirror. French or English in origin.

Reticule. Drawstring handbag/purse of black knit with openwork band along top through which drawstring is threaded. Running around center of bag are three horizontal bands of blue beads bordered by silver/gold lined beads. Lower part of the bag is completely covered by horizontal bands of silver/gold lined beads and blue beads. Bottom of bag with large sphere covered with blue beads from which hangs tassel of silver/gold lined bead loops. Unlined. Has been dated 1880-1890 or ca. 1916.

Folding fan. Guards and sticks of lightly carved ivory (bone?) with scrolling foliate designs. The leaf is of white lace. Sticks are unadorned on the reverse. No visible labels, marks or signatures. Fan has alternately been identified as Irish lace or machine-made lace, and dated 1830's or 1880-1899.

Sewing machine, hand powered.

Surveyor's transit, mounts with spring-action pin to tripod (1999.012.001b). Face is engraved with cardinal directions, with a star replacing North. Two bubble levels built into face. Degrees and minutes marked around circumference of face. Dial on side changes display on face to read numbers between 1 and 16. Manufacturer: T.F. Randolph, Cincinnati, Ohio. Patent date June 24, 1879. Scope mounts to compass body with screw pins from underneath. Needle tightens by screw action on "W" side of compass. Scope is mounted on a triangular support with single cross beam and center pivot. Focus knob moves but is tight. Surveying equipment belonged to Henry Hamilton Russell (1847-1932) , who came to Hallettsville, Texas from England before 1870. Russell was a surveyor for Lavaca County.

Red wooden station staff to surveyor's transit set. Round staff is capped at base with pointed iron end piece. Brass tip at top swivels. The object is called a "Jacob's Staff" and is used by surveyors to support a compass. The pointed end is jabbed into the ground and the compass is attached to the threaded piece at the top. The ball at the top allows the compass to be levelled.

The garden rake head has fourteen identical tines all in a row. In between and below the middle two tines is the cone shaped case into which the wooden handle would be inserted.

Starting at the bottom, the handle of the monkey wrench is a flat oval shape with two holes, it probably had two wooden pieces, one on each side attached with screws or nails. The neck has a vice that extends all the way to the head to the top of the handle. The head is rectangular with a sloping side. The back of the head is square and looks as though it was used as hammer.

Wooden tripod base to 1999.012.001a. Metal covered tip is missing from bottom of one of three turned legs. Levels transit with four screw knobs.

Three-arm brass protractor (a) with extensions for each arm, and mahogany case (b) with brass fittings; marked “English ca. 1880” on tag, and “TRADE MARK LONDON”

Afternoon ensemble of heavy black silk faille and lace. A) Bodice. Fitted; 3/4 length sleeves are split to show ice blue faille insets covered in black lace and are piped and scalloped with black embroidery and braid medallions. The lace on the sleeve insets extends from the elbow to the wrist with gathers in the lace at the back of the wrist. High standing collars with the front of the collar covered in matching blue faille covered in black lace; collar has hook & eye closure. Center front opening of 16 self-covered buttons and barred buttonholes. Center front opening is scalloped and piped to match sleeves and is trimmed with matching embroidered medallions. Boned with white moire silk grosgrain petersham which secures with two hook & eyes. Center back of petersham has three irregular pentagonal shaped tabs of black faille with barred buttonholes for securing bodice to skirt. B) Skirt. Full skirt is asymmetrical with blue faille panels inserted at front right side of skirt and two narrow inserts on left side. Left side inserts are partly covered by black faille pleating which forms folds at the left side waist. Front inserted panel is covered in black lace in floral …

Handbag with cast and chased silver frame decorated with openwork figures of children harvesting grapes. Ball/snap closure. Silver suspension chain of alternating oval links and links formed of three flower-heads. Bag is oval shaped, black wool with petite point embroidery decoration on each side of a bouquet of trumpet shaped flowers. Pink satin lining. Hallmarked "800" on frame.

The doll's dress has been dyed red and she is holding a baby also made of corn husk. The faces are drawn.

This decorative dish is covered with figures, fish and waves in many colors and patterns.

The three-stringed instrument has a small bulbous body highly decorated with patterns.

Pine drafting table. It has a slant top with hinges and no drawers. This drafting table was used at the Texas General Land Office around 1890, when O. Henry worked in the department.

Pine drafting table. It has a slant top, straight legs and three drawers. This drafting table was used at the Texas General Land Office around 1890, when O. Henry worked in the department.

Pine drafting table. It has a slant top with two drawers and wood pulls. This drafting table was used at the Texas General Land Office around 1890, when O. Henry worked in the department.

Framed Godey's Fashion print. It is in a black frame. The back is covered with brown paper. Has two women, one in peach and light blue holding her hat, and the other sitting on a yellow couch and wearing dark blue.

Framed Godey's Fashion print. It is in a black frame. The back is covered with brown paper. Has two women, one wearing pink and reading, and the other is wearing lightblue.

Framed Godey's Fashion print. It is in a black frame. The back is covered with brown paper. Has two women, one wearing a blue dress and holding a blue parasol. The other one is wearing a red and tan striped dress and is holding a red parasol.

Chinese floor-length vest made in the same style as a court robe but sleeveless. Mandarin collar. Body of vest is brocaded silk. Trim and collar contain much and fine silk hand embroidered design motifs.

Boy's brown velvet suit with white silk and linen blend shirt. A) Brown velvet jacket with long sleeves. Tucked in the back at half belt detail. French cuff style closure of two buttons at the neckline with connecting cord. Lined in brown. B) Shorts of brown velvet. Buttonholes around waist for attaching shirt. Flap front. Lined in tan cotton. C) Short sleeve shirt with a double breasted front button placket. Collar, front placket and sleeves trimmed in narrow lace. The shirt attaches to the brown velvet pants with buttons.

Little boy's dress of white nainsook with dropped waist and slightly gathered short skirt. Tucked front and back and lavishly laced with machine crotchet lace inserts. Short sleeves with tucks and lace at cuffs. Lace trimmed round neckline. Center back closure of hidden self-covered buttons under placket. Size 2 years.