Note: Read Part One of this article here.
Just last Saturday, my husband and I (who surprised me by offering to go once again 
), took another trip to the University of Michigan-Dearborn to see the Laura Ingalls Wilder exhibit there. When we arrived with video and regular camera in hand, there was only one other woman there and she left shortly after we arrived. I took my own sweet time and read every single poster that lined the wall as you enter the exhibit. Each framed poster was titled Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Journey of a Pioneer Family and told Laura’s story as well as the story of all of America at that time. Each one had a Laura quote and photos of people and objects from the books or from that time period.
The first showcase that I came to was filled with items that were made during Laura’s lifetime, including Coca-cola, the sewing machine, the Ferris wheel, the railroad, the Hershey bar, Spam and more.
We then proceeded to some displays that featured examples of wool with sheep shears and a pair of hand cards and another display that shows flax, linen and woven fabric. Next to this was a quilt from the Wilder Farm Museum that was handmade by some students that had visited.
The next display featured artifacts of the era including an ox yoke similar to the one Almanzo would have used, a carved wood chain, a wooden bucket and dipper, some ice skates, handmade paper doll and clothes, and a pig bladder. Also shown was a Holmes Stereo Viewer, which was positioned so that you could look into it. Pretty neat!
The other side of that display contained some typical household items, such as a punched tin lantern, a sadiron, a haystick, a scouring box, butter mold, and several more items. There were some very interesting looking household books too.
There was a corner with two beautiful local quilts hung on the wall above a spinning wheel and antique cradle.
The next glass case that I looked at (or gazed may be a better word) held books that were mentioned in the Little House books: Godey’s Lady’s book, Millbank, Mother Goose, The Polar and Tropical World, Tennyson’s Poems, and Norwood (Pa’s signed copy). The other side of the showcase contained many books that would have been popular during Laura’s lifetime.
Then we came to a display case which showed a comparison in illustrations (which do you prefer?) and also contained different language versions of the Little House books. You could read about Garth Williams and see his sketches and book cover mock-ups. One of them was for the cover of The First Four Years, which is mistakenly titled The Last Four Years.
We moved on to the showcase which contained some of Laura’s handwritten and typed manuscripts. The manuscripts from The Long Winter and These Happy Golden Years are on loan from the Detroit Public Library where Laura donated them in 1949 when they named a library branch for her. It’s always exciting to see these. Those lined notebooks written in pencil from edge to edge. Yes, they never fail to thrill me! Also posed here were the questions: Who wrote the books? and Fact or Fiction?
Next we saw a showcase featuring Rose. There were some Rose artifacts and books that she wrote and those written about her, including the book edited by Beyond Little House’s own Amy Lauters. There were also photos and a chronology of Rose’s life, including some of the people who were important to Rose.
Next to this was a display showing the chronology of the Ingalls family. Also shown here was a fiddle similar to Pa’s, Pa’s hymnal, some of Mary’s beadwork, a fan belonging to Carrie, and one of the replicas of the little China Shepherdess.
On the other side of the room was a corner devoted to William Anderson including a showcase featuring some of his books and framed prints by illustrator Dan Andreason hanging on the wall. We really have William Anderson to thank for this wonderful exhibit!
There was a small display case containing a program and correspondence from the opening of the Laura Ingalls Wilder branch of the Detroit Public Library in 1949. There was also a telegram from Rose to Mr. Ulveling, sent in 1967 when a new Laura Ingalls Wilder Library branch was dedicated, telling him how much it meant to her mother.
Of course, there was a showcase devoted to the Little House on the Prairie television show. A board game and script signed by Michael Landon, plus Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Anderson’s books are displayed here. Here, we also saw an American Doll, Kirsten, and some sunbonnets, pinafores and a doll that any young fan would love.
The next display’s focus was on Laura’s travels, with brochures from homesites. Also displayed here were many books written about Laura, a Braille version of Little House on the Prairie and a German version of The First Four Years entitled Almanzo and Laura. My favorite items here were the little wood carved figures of Pa, Ma, Mary, Laura, and Carrie!
Then we saw some of Laura’s personal items — her sewing basket, needlework, books, and photos. There was also one of Laura’s hats and a pair of her gloves. It is noted that the tag in the hat is from Lord & Taylor as opposed to the hats that Laura had made for herself in the books. We could also see an enlargement of a Missouri Ruralist with Laura’s first published article. Here also was one of Rose’s books, Cindy, which Laura sent to Carrie, and Laura’s own copy of Victor Hugo’s Toilers of the Sea with Laura’s own inscription, Bessie Wilder.
Right next to this was a continuation with more Laura items on display — her quilt, a replica of her beloved Charlotte doll, an issue of Youth’s Companion, and more needlework. There was also some of Laura’s china — Blue Willow and Rosebud Chintz. Also here were two items which I had missed out on the other two times that I was able to see the items that are kept at the Detroit Public Library.
Finally I was able to see the two textbooks – Independent Fifth Reader and The Model History: A Brief Account of the American People; for Schools. I had been looking forward to seeing these as they were not taken out to view when I was shown the handwritten manuscripts at the library.
Then we moved on to a showcase of Laura’s correspondence with some of her fans in Michigan. Some of it is on loan from the Detroit Public Library so I was lucky enough have seen it before. There was a letter from Laura to a Miss Adams at Central State Teachers College, which mentions perhaps having met in Detroit. The students of Miss Adams had written to Laura and some of them had written to Almanzo. My memory escapes me, but I have to assume that this is the teacher that William Anderson had spoken to about her experience of seeing Laura at the book fair.
I know that there were so many things that I have forgotten to include. There was so much to take in. However, we decided to leave when a large family with several children came in. I was thrilled to see two young girls so very interested in Laura with a family willing to bring them in. I was not bothered by them, but knew that I’d had my hours of peaceful contentment and having the exhibit to myself. It was time to let go.
I am so happy to have been able to visit this exhibit twice and to have been able to hear William Anderson speak again. There is always something new to learn from him. Another Laura adventure… and certainly one I will never forget.
