[4] The Caplans spent about US$1 million acquiring the objects from around 1965 to 1985; some of the countries strongly represented are Japan, Mexico, Russia, Germany, Indonesia, and India.

All the objects were temporarily housed in space provided by Eli Lilly and Company, where they were fumigated to prevent any insects from entering the museum storage area.

[5] Present that evening were Frank and Theresa Caplan, members of their family, local dignitaries, diplomats from the United Nations and several of the countries represented in the collection along with more than 500 invited guests and international entertainers.

Members of Pedro Linares' family from Mexico demonstrated the making of alebrijes, their unique, fantasy, papier mache creatures while groups of international musicians and dancers performed throughout the museum.

[3] Highlights of the collection include shadow puppets from Indonesia and India, carved wood puppets from Mali and Burma, a gourd helicopter from Mexico, a gamelan orchestra from Indonesia, a beaded stool from Cameroon, a castanet rattle from Portugal, cornhusk figures from Czechoslovakia, toys made by children from Zaire, Tanzania and Brazil, weavings from Egypt, carved figures from Poland, and ceremonial masks from Sri Lanka, Japan, Guatemala, Nepal and Burkina Faso.