A 1970s box purse reflects the personal history of a Davis Island woman

In honor of National Handbag Day on October 10, we’re showcasing a customized piece from the 1970s in the Tampa Bay History Center Collection!

This one-of-a-kind box purse reflects several of the major cultural trends of the 1970s. During the decade, the Arts and Crafts movement experienced a resurgence, while economic hardships following the 1973 gas shortage encouraged people to find creative, affordable ways to make and personalize their own belongings.

Growing environmental awareness, symbolized by the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, along with the counterculture movement’s rejection of mass consumerism, helped fuel the popularity of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) crafts. Macramé, quilting, crocheting, latch-hook kits, and other fiber arts became popular, as did creating objects from natural materials. Box purses were part of this handmade aesthetic. Wooden handbags were produced by designers such as Enid Collins, but many were also made or customized by hobbyists. Kits were available for people to decorate their own wooden purses using painting and decoupage—the process of gluing cut-out images onto a surface and sealing them with varnish or lacquer. Specialty shops also popped up around Florida offering customized designs.

This particular purse has a special Tampa connection. It was hand-customized for a Tampa woman who lived on Davis Island. The design features members of her family, her family home, and various organizations associated with her and her family. More than just a handbag, this purse is a snapshot of one Tampa woman’s life and of the creative, handmade spirit of the 1970s. Today, these box purses are considered pieces of folk art.