The museum’s primary collection consists of cultural artifacts and supporting documentation representing the history of American childlife. Toys are the primary collection focus. Artifacts representative of worldwide cultures, childlife in the Philadelphia region, and art will be acquired based on program and exhibition needs. Timeframe for collecting objects is post World War II (1945 – present) due to relevance to current multigenerational audience. The categories include:
The Contemporary Toy Collection consists of objects representing the yearly top selling trends in the toy industry and our core organizational theme of play, regardless of age.
The Historical Childlife Collection documents the material culture of childhood. Objects included are children’s toys and the ephemera associated with them, especially from children seven and younger or from the Delaware Valley region. The focus of the collection is the 20th century with special emphasis from 1945 to the present. Included are the set and props from the Captain Noah and His Magical Ark television show.
The Childlife Archives include photographs and written or printed primary materials which enhance and document other parts of the collection.