Nostalgia – Museum of Peter D. Erdman

The Nostalgia Collection brings together items that evoke past memories and sentiments. These pieces serve as reminders of bygone times, capturing the essence of familiar places, people, and experiences.

Photos

Rochester

Earlier Rochester

Modern Rochester

These photos show what some of the above buildings look like today.

Medical Sciences

Greater Rochester Area

Twin Cities

Technology

LePage's Mucilage Adhesive, circa 20th Century

This bottle is LePage's Mucilage, a plant-based adhesive once common in homes, offices, and classrooms. Known for its distinctive bottle with a rubber tip applicator, LePage's Mucilage was used for bonding paper, cards, and other light materials. The glue was derived from natural gums, a sap-like substance extracted from certain trees and plants, which provided an eco-friendly bonding agent before the wide availability of synthetic adhesives. This particular packaging reflects the mid-20th-century design, with its iconic red cap and amber-colored bottle. LePage's Mucilage was a precursor to the modern glue stick and remains a nostalgic reminder of past office supplies and crafting materials.