Bringing Up Baby: the Life of Infants...
at the turn of the 20th century in America

Baby books offer a story that greatly differs from traditional birth or hospital records because the books are a personal record as well as a popular culture record.

This exhibit explores the material culture and narrative forms of baby books by showcasing the layout and organization of categories pertaining to the growth and milestones of three individual babies named Allen, Clara, and Janet. Through the documentation of "baby's first..." milestones and the mementos saved by their parents, we have examples of the daily activities of babies raised by middle-class parents in the early 20th-century.