See more objects with the tag children's.

See more objects with the color darkseagreen grey darkolivegreen darkkhaki slategrey or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

1948

  • Work on this object began.

1956

  • Work on this object ended.

1991

  • We acquired this object.

2006

2007

2008

2014

2024

  • You found it!

Sidewall, Cowboys and Indians

This is a sidewall. It was manufactured by The Joliet Wallpaper Mills. It is dated 1948–56 and we acquired it in 1991. Its medium is machine printed on paper. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

Cowboys and Indians were a popular theme on children's wallpapers in the post-war years. And it's no wonder: children were being bombarded by Westerns on numerous fronts including television, motion pictures, and comic books. Prior to this period Westerns could be followed on the radio.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled No Girls Allowed.

This object was donated by Suzanne Lipschutz. It is credited Gift of Suzanne Lipschutz.

Its dimensions are

Overall: 117 x 48.5 cm (46 1/16 x 19 1/8 in.)

It is inscribed

Printed on selvage: "The Joliet Wall Paper Mills" and " RUN I, W 403, U.W.P.C. OF N.A."

Cite this object as

Sidewall, Cowboys and Indians; Manufactured by The Joliet Wallpaper Mills; USA; machine printed on paper; Overall: 117 x 48.5 cm (46 1/16 x 19 1/8 in.); Gift of Suzanne Lipschutz; 1991-89-109

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Wall Stories: Children's Wallpapers and Books.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18637609/ |title=Sidewall, Cowboys and Indians |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=26 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>