Sporting history builds with a series of different source material – game film, statistics, and newspaper articles meld with folklore and oral histories. Then, of course, there are the objects. A welcome portion of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website introduces visitors to new acquisitions. Currently included is the above helmet, worn by quarterback Doug Williams in Super Bowl XXII (where he lead the Redskins to victory over the Denver Broncos) and Floyd Little’s jersey from his last season with the Broncos in 1975.

These objects do more than just celebrate the players, they also remind of the values of seasons past and allow an opportunity to think of how safety measures and uniforms have developed over time.

In the first decade of the 20th-century, Idaho Falls transformed from a frontier boom town to a civilized city. In the course of the decade wars were waged between tavern owners, bootleggers and gamblers and the proponents of temperance. Some of this battle was fought on the pages of the three local newspapers. Hot Type, Hard Times, an exhibition at The Museum of Idaho tells the story of Idaho Falls through print. The machinery required to produce the news plays center stage, augmented by some rare ephemera. In short, it is a tale of both rapid change in the city and the wider industrial change sweeping America during the period. 

Views of Hot Type, Hard Times after the jump.

Antiques week has hit Manchester, NH. There are great shows and auctions throughout, and the events draw collectors from far and wide. The Bee makes simple note of this fact and draws attention to another gem in Manchester – the Currier Museum. Worth reading is a brief run down of the institutions collections and history. Make sure to check it out next time your in New England.

For a full listing of Antiques Weeks events head here.

It’s Nice That tips us to Modern 50. More than a webshop, the site is an archive of treasures from across the globe. Furniture, housewares, sporting equipment, oddities, ephemera… just about everything. From mid-century design to 1980s WWF Figurines, Modern 50 has some wonderful objects – all of which are photographed with brilliant detail. A fantastic way of exploring the past, and adding to ones collection.

A few things that caught the eye looking through after the jump.

150 Years ago a little known book, Philadelphia and its Manufactures, was published. It surveyed the factories and livelihood of the city, bringing to life local industry (from textiles to brewing). Celebrating that history, and exploring the “now” of the factories, Art in the Age presents Philadelphia and its Manufactures, 1859 & 2009 – an exhibition of photographs and objects tying together past and present. Curated by local artist and archivist Jacob Hellman, the exhibition is designed to review the factories and critique current materialism. The photographs and objects go on view this Friday.

Support is provided by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

More images follow.

A new exhibition has opened at the Ikejiri Institute of Design focusing on the history of Japanese bicycle manufacture. In 1948, Keirin was founded with the hopes of holding the official races for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Building frames was a new challenge for Japanese manufacturers, and the exhibition traces the history of the Japanese bike through this original surge up to a range of urban transport bikes. (via Prolly).

Some great archival images after the jump.

Kristina Dryza has placed an intriguing post on The David Report about an under-examined piece of Japanese visual culture. As she reports, in the 1980s one Japanese bureaucrat devised a public art project that makes manhole covers a bit more exciting. The idea to make invisible drainage systems exciting above ground took hold and now 95% of the municipalities in Japan use customized covers. They are, I must admit, pretty damn cool.

A few more examples after the jump.

Covering everything from saltboxes and framsteads to brownstones and mobile homes, The American House is an illustrated history of the home across America. Famous houses such as Jefferson’s Monticello and Philip Johnson’s Glass House are presented alongside lesser known and equally groundbreaking structures. The selection covers not only the entire nation, but also key styles making the volume a wonderful introduction to American architecture as a whole. As added bonus, a listing of houses open to the public is included, making The American House a pretty good travel guide too.

The American House, published by Phaidon, 2008, www.phaidon.com

For July, Art In the Age of Mechanical Reproduction celebrates the history of the Hex sign. A common motif in Pennsylvania German decorative arts, the Hex sign has become a symbol of joy. The exhibition includes artifacts on loan from Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, along with new interpretations of the Hex.

Art in the Age, 116 N. 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

Largely ignored by most popular histories of skateboarding, the story of the American Indian skate scene is subject of celebration in Ramp It Up. The exhibition is open now at the National Museum of the American Indian and includes elements of design, graphic art, film, and music. Complementing the installation are frequent live skate showcases. The exhibition runs until September 13, 2009.