Laundry box

c. 1940s - 1950s

This rectangular, aluminum container was used to ship laundry by Parcel Post. The sender secured the lid to the box with the cotton belt. To facilitate regular shipping between the clothes’ wearer (often a son or daughter at college) and the launderer (usually the mother), their names and addresses appeared on reverse sides of a mailing label. The sender simply flipped the label over to the recipient’s address and attached it to the container’s lid. See also in the collection object number 2006.2039.1.1-3, which is a cardboard box with a canvas covering and strap closure.