Chalk Line Reel
name: label: Associated Name
content: Habitat for Humanity
label: maker
content: Irwin Auger Bit Company
notes: label: Description
content: A chalk line is used by various professionals to make straight lines. This reel encases blue chalk dust and coiled string. The chalked string is drawn out of its casing, pulled taught and snapped against a surface to leave a straight line. A winding key draws the string back into the case. It was used by Jillian Gross while working for Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit, non-government organization advocating affordable housing around the world.
label: Description
content: When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005, Jillian Gross had worked with Habitat for Humanity for three years learning woodworking and house-building skills. Groups such as Habitat for Humanity marshaled volunteers, tools and lumber to step in when it became clear that normal avenues of housing assistance were overwhelmed.
label: Description
content: In November 2005, Habitat for Humanity launched “America Builds on the National Mall,” a demonstration house-building marathon in Washington, D.C. in which the basic components of 51 homes were assembled within a week and shipped to the Gulf Coast. Upon completion of the project Ms. Gross, one of the house building leaders during this event, donated her tool belt, tools and protective wear to the Smithsonian Institution.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: Associated Place
content: United States: Louisiana, New Orleans
topic: label: related event
content: Hurricane Katrina
label: related event
content: America Builds on the National Mall
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Cultures & Communities
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content: Family & Social Life
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content: Engineering, Building, and Architecture
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content: Work
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content: Industry & Manufacturing
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Jillian Gross
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2005.0276.05
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0276.05
label: accession number
content: 2005.0276
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Chalk Line Reel
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: aluminum (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 5 in x 3 in x 1 1/2 in; 12.7 cm x 7.62 cm x 3.81 cm