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Human lives, current events, and social issues all produce physical artifacts. Mmuseumm, an institution in New York dedicated to object journalism, collects material culture to tell stories about the modern world. The items shown here, made by inmates in the U.S. prison system, illustrate the severity of restrictions imposed on prisoners as well as the human instinct to persevere through creativity and invention.

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1. Toothbrush: Prison officials fear that the hard handles of typical toothbrushes will be converted into weapons, so some prisoners are given a “safety fingertip toothbrush,” which lacks a handle. To make this contraband toothbrush, a commissary order form was rolled up and covered in plastic wrap, then tied to the brush head with white thread.

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2. Coffee kit: Coffee and creamer containers with a spoon.

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3. Weight-lifting glove: Hand-knit using denim and material from towels.

Courtesy of Mmuseumm

4. Electric water heater: Made from a piece of appliance cord, a pen clip, a razor blade, rubber bands, and a plastic utensil. Courtesy of Mmuseumm 5. Pens: The casings on pens are removed by prison officials so that inmates can’t melt them down to make a weapon. This leaves just the inkwell, which is difficult to hold. These pens were wrapped with paper and string so they would be easier to use.

Courtesy of Mmuseumm