Arago: Hotel Room Key Tokens

This round, metal, brass hotel key tag marked Owney’s visit to the Paxton Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska. The hotel was named for a prominent local businessman, William A. Paxton (1837-1907). There is no available information to indicate when this tag was presented to Owney. The tag was originally manufactured by W. W. Wilcox, of Chicago, which was a major manufacturer of railroad baggage tags and similar metal items in the late nineteenth century. Wilcox manufactured additional baggage tags that ended-up in Owney’s possession.