Rachel Cardozo, wife of Judge Isaac Cardozo, owned this calling-card case. It is very intricately designed, with an image of Trinity Church (New York) on one side and George Washington's tomb (Mount Vernon) on the other. Rachel's daughter, who donated the case, indicated that it may have been associated with her parents' New York wedding in 1853. The Cardozos moved to St. Paul in 1860.

Calling cards were very important parts of social etiquette, There were complex rules to follow, including the appropriate dates and times to call and the guidelines for accepting or rejecting someone's visit. In general, calling cards were a practice of the upper classes, as servants were usually the ones answering doors and receiving cards.