2013 Finalist National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Collection Highlights

Marian Anderson (1897-1993)
c. 1940-45
1947.216
Watercolor, gouache, white tempera, and charcoal on heavy watercolor paper
Artist/Maker: Enit Zerner Kaufman

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collections > Luce Center > Mansion of Happiness

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Luce Center

Mansion of Happiness

Mansion of Happiness
Title
Mansion of Happiness
Date 
1894
Related People 
Artist/Maker: Parker Brothers
Medium 
Cardboard, wood, paper
Dimensions 
Overall: 1 1/8 x 21 1/4 x 14 1/8 in. ( 2.9 x 54 x 35.9 cm )
Description 
"The Mansion of Happiness" paper covered cardboard and wood box with game board applied to the bottom half of the box and three turned wooden playing pieces; board chromolithographed with a spiral oval path with sixty spaces, half printed with virtues and vices; board inscribed, "THE MANSION OF HAPPINESS./ FIRST/ BOARD GAME/ Ever Published/ in/ AMERICA/ AUTHORIZED/ EDITION/ copyrighted 1894/ Published by/ PARKER BROTHERS/ SALEM, MASS. U.S.A."; Box cover chromolithographed with a domed palace with a lake full of swans in the front and two girls to the left; box cover inscribed, "THE/ MANSION OF/ HAPPINESS/ FIRST/ BOARD GAME/ EVER/ PUBLISHED/ IN AMERICA/ AUTHORIZED/ EDITION/ Edw. W. Fairfield/ Republished 1894 by/ PARKER BROTHERS/ SALEM, MASS. U.S.A./ COPYRIGHTED 1894/ Parker Brothers".
Credit Line 
The Liman Collection
Object Number 
2000.437
Marks 
lithographed: on the board: "THE MANSION OF HAPPINESS./ FIRST/ BOARD GAME/ Ever Published/ in/ AMERICA/ AUTHORIZED/ EDITION/ copyrighted 1894/ Published by/ PARKER BROTHERS/ SALEM, MASS. U.S.A." lithographed: on the box cover: "THE/ MANSION OF/ HAPPINESS/ FIRST/ BOARD GAME/ EVER/ PUBLISHED/ IN AMERICA/ AUTHORIZED/ EDITION/ Edw. W. Fairfield/ Republished 1894 by/ PARKER BROTHERS/ SALEM, MASS. U.S.A./ COPYRIGHTED 1894/ Parker Brothers"
Gallery Label 
George Parker purchased the rights to The Mansion of Happiness in 1885 and reproduced a faithful version of the classic morality game, extolling his "authorized edition" as the "first board game ever published in America."
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.