overall: 8 cm x 6 cm x 1.4 cm; 3 1/8 in x 2 3/8 in x 9/16 in
overall: 2 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in x 5/8 in; 6.35 cm x 6.35 cm x 1.5875 cm
Object Name:
condoms
contraceptive, condom
Place Made:
United States: Missouri, North Kansas City
Associated place:
United States: Louisiana, Saint Martinville
Date made:
ca 1930s - 1950s
Description:
This square cardboard condom box has green, yellow, and red diagnol stripes on with red and white text. There is a small peacock symbol on the upper left side on the front; box. The box contains three condoms, each of which is housed in a yellow sealed foil package that has red and blue text and the peacock symbol. Each condom package reads "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL READY FOR USE INDIVIDUALLY TESTED AND ROLLED BY....Dean Rubber Co., North Kansas City, MO." The back of the box reads "THE ORIGINAL--ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES. If you prefer a Dry Prophylactic ask your druggist for Dean's Peacocks Reservoir End Health Product."
Dean Rubber Company was one of the leading manufacturers of condoms during this period.
In 1872, the Comstock Act had prohibited interstate commerce in obscene literature and immoral material. Condoms and other forms of birth control fell under the category of “immoral material.” As forbidden material, condoms were rarely advertised openly. However, during the early twentieth century, rising concerns about gonorrhea and syphilis led a growing number of public health advocates to call for condoms to be sold to prevent disease. In 1918, a court case in New York, (The People of the State of New York v Margaret H. Sanger) clarified that existing penal codes allowed physicians to prescribe condoms to prevent disease. Named after Judge Frederick Crane who wrote the opinion in the case, the Crane decision opened the door for condom manufacturers to openly advertise and sell condoms, provided they were sold as a disease preventative.
Peacock's Reservoir Ends were sold as a prophylactic or preventive against disease. Among the more expensive condoms sold during the early to mid-twentieth century, Peacock condoms were sold primarily in drug stores. As was true with most more expensive condoms, Peacocks were tested to ensure that they had no tears or rips.
