Frances and Mary Allen photographed many objects and room settings in Memorial Hall Museum in Deerfield, Massacusetts, in the early 19th century. This architectural shell cupboard once flanked the parlor fireplace in the 1760 home of Elijah Williams of Deerfield. When that house was moved to make way for a Deerfield Academy building, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association bought the cupboard for ten dollars and installed it in its Memorial Hall Museum.The cupboard was intended for display of treasured objects of ceramic and glass.