Looking at Artifacts, Thinking about History Artifacts mean many
things Artifacts are more than just material things. They
communicate ideas, symbolize values, and convey emotions. When
we consider meaning, value, and significance, we are in the
domain of cultural history. Different artifacts mean different
things to different people, and those meanings change over time.
Consider a baseball from the Negro League’s 1937 East-West All-
Star game. It tells a story of changing value in use, as a
memento, as a collectible: - A Personal Triumph. For first
baseman Buck Leonard, this baseball was a souvenir of a winning
game, a symbol of his skill and success, and a reminder of how
far he had come. Leonard saved this ball for nearly 45 years
before finally donating it to the Smithsonian in 1981. - An
Unequal Playing Field. Although the Negro Leagues easily matched
the majors in skill and talent, racial and economic barriers
kept black and white ballplayers on separate and unequal playing
fields. For black teams, baseb