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THE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
1n
VOL. 3 NO. 4
r
r
r
JULY 1982
been no general agreement on particular items
that were more appropriate than others to be-
Jill' s Household Effects
In the May issue wefollowed the evolution of ver-
token a family' s rise to gentry status. After
acquiring standard amenities like skillets and
nacular house plans in America and found the
sheets, the choices of additional household
social reasons behind regional variations. The
goods were apparently a matter of individual
buildings by themselves tell only pan' of the story;
furnishings and equipment add detail to the history
of housekeeping. Inventories ofpersonal property
were the source of information Cary Canon and
preference.)
The wife of a tenant farmer or small planter
without house slaves or servants had to pro-
vide the family with food. Its cultivation,
preparation, and preservation were mostly her
responsibility. In addition, she was obliged to
Lorna Walsh usedfor this portion of their wom-
en' s historypaper.
Until the eighteenth century, household ar-
wash and mend,
perform basic chores like
tifacts were generally simple, utilitarian, un-
sweeping and tidying the house, and care for
specialized, few in number, and less impor-
infants, children, and the sick. Her spare time
she spent in the orchards or fields. Her con-
tant than the architectural spaces in which
tribution to the family's success was leaving
her husband and the field hands, if any, free to
they were used. A pervasive uniformity characterized material life before the end of the
seventeenth century. Being rich meant own ing more and living better, but not really being different. Inasmuch as housework puts
many domestic artifacts to use, it follows that
work full time on the tobacco crop.
there was a close correspondence between the
Breathing Life Into History
continued, page2)
sameness of matenal life in the seventeenth
century and a common experience among
housekeepers.
John E. Harbour, director of the historic sites
division ofthe State Historical Society of Wiscon-
During the second half of the seventeenth
century most tenant farmers and small
planters had some sort of house, a hearth,
sin, was a guest speaker at theAASLH meeting in
mattress, basic clothing, a storage chest, a few
marize his address for The Interpreter. John E.
tools to prepare food ( mortar and pestle, ax
and knives, a pot or two), some wooden
Harbour is the son ofJohn W. Harbour, Jr., who
was vice president ofour Division of Presentation
trenchers, a few spoons, stored crops, and
for many years. We think you' ll enjoy this editorial
very little else. Middling planters of the same
perspective on interpretation.
era improved their modest furnishings with
Something very exciting has been developing, evolving perhaps, over the past ten to
Williamsburg last fall. We asked him to sum-
better bedding (a shuck or flock mattress for
every two or three family members, later a
ter plates and porringers, coarse earthenware
fifteen years in the way we view the role of the
historic site and in the ways in which we interpret them. A recent survey of 110 museum
for the dairy, frying pans, and maybe a roast-
villages in the United States and Canada
ing spit. The most affluent households of the
noted that " the most apparent shift in em-
time had all the above plus chairs, tables with
with sheets, assortments of cooking equip-
phasis for village museums has been from
buildings and fumishings to interpretation
and demonstrations. This shift is pervasive,
ment, lanthoms, candlesticks, chamber pots
affecting all museums including the most
or close stools, and occasionally a piece of case
richly endowed."
furniture. Luxuries such as silver and clocks
been given a name —Living History.
feather bed for the master and mistress), pew-
cloths and napkins, more beds on frames and
This movement has also
continued, page Z)
appear once in a while. (There seems to have
1
�traveler called the " sweeping train of luxury"
Household Effects, continued
between 1715 and 1740. Both men and wom-
If the housewife had a helper or two, she
en were participants in the new fashionable ('
style of living, but women carried more of the `-
probably delegated chores like carrying wood
and water, building fires, gardening, and
other heavy work. While each additional pair
of hands meant another mouth to feed and
more clothes to launder and patch, it also allowed the housewife to superintend an im-
growing burden of behind -the -scene preparations. The new style affected all economic
levels, the lowest aspiring to the highest' s way
of life. One of the major showcases of the new
style was formal dining. Especially here wom-
portant division of labor. She set the extra
en' s work increased. Extra attention was re-
hands to carding and spinning when the other
quired to produce a multitude of elaborate
work was done. The wife herself might have
more time for sewing and knitting.
dishes brought forth in specialized serving
pieces. Carefully orchestrated mealtime ritu-
Houses changed over the course of the colo-
als were the way workaday wives and house-
nial period in the direction of ever greater
bound mothers took part in civilized conversa-
specialization, social separation, and privacy.
tion and displayed social graces to company.
This was the reward for all their kitchen
Partitioning the hall, heating the parlor, demoting the kitchen, and multiplying the bedchambers
started a
process
labors. Both the social rewards and attention
that eventually
brought a multitude of people into closer,
to household matters increased over the years
more intimate association with their personal
and culminated in the nineteenth- century
wife, mother, and homemaker' s sacred place
possessions
and
self - ade
m
surroundings.
within her " earthly tabemacle."
Where artifacts were numerous enough for
everyone to have his own, people developed a
closer personal identification with the every-
12
day things they used. Matched sets of chairs,
dishes, forks, and so on helped define peer
groups, and the artifacts themselves became
emblems of the group' s self consciousness.
The years between the late seventeenth cen-
tury and the late eighteenth were a period of
Living History, continued
social and economic adjustment to demographic expansion, religious reformation, and
The 1970s saw the awakening of interest in
popular-education. More people became in-
the new social history. The life of the common
volved in a world outside the confines of their
man and the societal relationships that bind us
own local communities. The wider world was
together became grist for scholarship that
unacquainted with a person' s social standing
fueled both the printing industry and the
historic site. Process and change became the
at home since the traditional and continuing
buzzwords for a whole new generation of his-
measures of status such as property, family,
torians and museum staff who wanted to un-
and offices couldn' t be carried round. People
derstand and provide for the museum visitor
had to invent a portable system of status
an experience of what " real life"
identification — system of manners, rituals,
a
was all
about. In a recent article, Cary Carson ad-
and conventions discemable by anyone in the
monishes visitors and museum staff to be
know. Artifacts were the medium of this new
more critical of the increasing number of living history museums that assume that a re-
social communication. Their use was leamed
at home and practiced abroad in activities that
created past speaks for itself and that an accu-
never before had been part of ordinary domes-
rate portrayal of activity provides sufficient
tic routines. Tea ceremonies, formal dinners,
social calls, promenades, balls, assemblies,
explanation.
Living history must explain
something worth knowing about the past. De-
and musical evenings required much special-
ized equipment not to be found in the chests
monstration for its sake alone is worth little.
and cupboards of an older way of life. Thus
However, the headlong dash into what one of
my site managers calls " the usual trendy crafts
began the proliferation of artifacts for specific
popular in the museum world of the moment"
uses ( smoking chairs, card tables, dessert
is the legacy that has become known as living
history. Indeed, Ellis Burcaw went so far as to
suggest that living history enjoys such popularity that to not engage in some form of it
plates, chocolate cups) and for specific placement (end tables, corner chairs, sideboards).
Women' s roles and work habits were greatly
altered by what a French eighteenth century
2
�implies an inexcusable backwardness. It is not
communication, and participation, rather than
that living history is wrong, but that what is
wrong are the ways in which we are imple-
lecture. Living history can enable us to interpret the new social history more fully and
menting the concept.
completely.
Living history is an art, as interpretation is
an art. It is so easy to leam the what of history,
By its very nature living history requires
that we understand the past, not simply por-
tray isolated aspects of it for our public. We,
but far more difficult to understand the how
who insist on documentary proof of the writ-
and why. The presentation of ideas, the un-
ten word, seem curiously willing to settle for
something less for the living history which we
serve up to the museum visitor. If the new
social history does concern itself with the totality of the human experience, does it not
follow that we must learn not only all that it is
derstanding of cause, the role of setting,
selectivity —
these are abstractions which play
a key role in understanding the past. Bridging
the gap between fact and understanding is the
hurdle over which we are stumbling. Making
this connection creates the context. How is
this accomplished? There must be a totality to
possible to know about the lives of people, but
the experience, so that the whole is not mis-
more importantly, place these experiences in
a context, specific to time and place? This is
sing some of its parts. Relationships must be
the fallacy of living history as it is practiced by
many museums. The context is missing. We
must not only understand how something
happened, but why.
correct, whether they are buildings, objects,
or landscapes.
Why have we so willingly embraced this
new interpretation, this living history? Tradi-
There is a sameness to the American his-
tional methods of interpretation leave us un-
toric site that is numbing. How was life on a
German immigrant farm in Wisconsin diffe-
fulfilled. The why is absent, the context is
missing. We must breathe life into history.
rent from that of a Yankee in Connecticut, or
We must understand history before we can
village life in Indiana from that in North
expect the interpreter to weave the spell from
which the visitor gains greater insight and un-
Carolina? Many of the day -to -day necessities
derstanding. This is the challenge of the
were the same. But, were they accomplished
1980s for historic site interpretation.
differently, with different tools, with different materials, and if so, why? The list of
questions is endless. The answers require
more research. That is the missing ingredient.
We must put the history back into living history. If we do not, we are simply portraying
The King' s English
some undefined past living, without reference
to time or place. In this age of competition
with various forms of mass entertainment, we
are dangerously close to succumbing to the
lure of more activity for the sake of increased
Flock—shredded bits or tufts of wool or cot-
ton used for stuffing mattresses, beds,
attendance.
Flow can we correct this drift away from
cushions, etc.
history as we are caught up in the excitement
and stimulation of more activity? Our program
Piggin — small pail, especially a wooden
a
one, with one stave longer than the rest
goals must be clear. They must be related to
the specific nature of the historic site. Sound
serving as a handle.
Salamander — circular iron plate with a long
a
scholarship must be the underpinning of the
handle. The plate is heated and placed over
a pudding, etc. to brown it.
entire program.
Trammel — series of rings or links or some
a
other device to bear a crook at different
A basic misunderstanding has developed.
Living history is a technique, not the pro-
heights for holding a pot over the fire.
gram.
development and interpretation that seeks to
Treenware — wide variety of small, useful
a
articles made from wood: spoons, bowls,
re- create an historical environment where
mugs, trenchers, etc. The term is derived
Living history is a concept of historic site
people actively pursue the daily activities of
0
from tree.
the life which the museum seeks to preserve.
Trencher —
a
square
or
circular
piece
of
Living history interpretation seeks to teach
wood, shaped like a plate or dish, from
inductively, through demonstration, informal
which food was served or eaten.
3
�through family, work, community, and mate-
The Exchange
rial culture; and CWF history and surroundings. The book will include articles by
curators and historians, informational outlines
What' s a Senior Interpreter? Presently, it' s a
host /hostess or escort who has, by dint of
study and effort, succeeded in producing
and descriptions, as well as training aids such
three projects that are judged to be excep-
library, so each veteran interpreter will
receive a personal copy of the new handbook
as a glossary of fashion terms before 1775.
We think you' ll want this resource in your
tional and useful for interpretation or education. Three people serve on a review commit-
as soon as it is printed.
tee to approve each project, and one of these
people is a specialist in the subject area
studied by the applicant. Each project equips
the host /hostess or escort to conduct training
Occurrences
in a particular area or to provide an educational
aid or program for visitors or other interpret-
ers. Promotion after three such projects recognizes the special qualifications of the Senior
Interpreter. June Shields was the first to eam
As we continue through the summer, be sure
the new title with her extraordinary program,
offered to our visitors. Check the Visitor's
Companion for the events, times, and loca-
to come and see the many events that are
Once Upon a Town," and other programs
designed to educate young people. You are all
tions. We would appreciate your efforts to
familiar with Cynthia Long' s Garden Journal
and her essay on the Palace gardens in the
help keep our visitors informed about these
Governor' s Palace brochure. She used these
them.
special opportunities which are available for
On August 21,
pieces to help her become a Senior Interpreter
Doris
Hammes
submitted
the Fifes and Drums,
Militia, and Garrison Regiment will celebrate
and continues to write the Garden Journal.
the Monatrh' s Birthday on Palace Green. Dur-
several pub-
lished pieces ( including her book, AWilliams-
ing Labor Day Weekend a Military Encamp-
burg Hornbook), a biographical tour, and a lec-
ment will be held. Troops from the re- created
Southern Battalion and the Yorktown Bicen-
tuie as her projects. Margaret Schober pur-
tennial Brigade will be camped on Market
Square and the Capitol Exchange. It will be
sued her interest in herbs and health by re-
searching eighteenth- century knowledge and
an excellent weekend of living history.
Keeping the Best Company will be presented
practices in these areas. Her paper, " A Glos-
sary of Eighteenth Century Diseases, Medical Terms, and Medication," is available to
at 8: 00 P. M. on Friday evenings in September.
borrow from the Davidson Shop library. What
Also, at 7: 00 P.M. beginning September 1, Lt.
Henry Williams will be court- martialed every
Wednesday during the Evening ofMilitary Life
is St. Anthony' s Fire, anyway? If Lord Botetourt died of it, maybe you' ll want to know.
John Lowe, our fifth Senior Interpreter, qual-
program, which begins at the Magazine. So
ified with programs based on his extensive
take your employee' s pass in hand and come
studies of Peter Pelham and with another en-
out during the evening to enjoy yourself.
In October CWF will host a six day AASLH
richment lecture on General Braddock and his
seminar
part in the French and Indian War.
entitled "
Successful
Interpretive
Planning." Twenty-five participants will be
A number of other hosts, hostesses, and
escorts are at various stages in their progress
toward promotion to Senior Interpreter. Our
selected
from
applicants
throughout
the
hats are off to all of you who have undertaken
such seminars work, call Bill Tramposch (Ext.
country. For more information about how
2711) or Frances Griffin (Ext. 2389).
this challenge.
Working with Cliff Burket and the entire
Department
of
Interpretive
Education,
The Interpreter is a bimonthly publication of the Department of Interpretive Education.
Editor: Barbara Beaman
Jeanne Whitney has been developing a handbook that will be studied by all new interpreters as they go through Preliminary Training.
Assistant Editoran11 Feature Writer::
Lou Powers
Editorial Board: Bill Tramposch, Cliff Burket, George
Collins, Harold Gill, Dennis O' Toole, Jane Strauss,
The various chapters of the book correspond
Sumpter Priddy I1I
to the areas addressed during Preliminary
Training: interpretation; history studied
1982 by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
4
9
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter
Description
An account of the resource
<p><em>The Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter</em> was a newsletter published July 1980-September 2009 by the education and research departments of Colonial Williamsburg and authored mainly by staff researchers and interpreters. Its purpose was to disseminate information germane to the current interpretive focus of the Historic Area uniformly across the various departments involved with historical interpretation. Some of the articles sprang from the need to impart new research or interpretive information to staff while others were inspired by employee questions or suggestions. In the earlier issues, standard sections include “The King’s English” which explained various words or terminology encountered in 18th century life, “Occurrences” which noted different programs and events of interest to employees and visitors, and “The Exchange” which was a guest column that offered the perspective and knowledge of non-research department employees on various subjects. Later issues had regular columns about historical subjects, archaeology, gardening, new books at the Foundation library, “Cook’s Corner” about foodways, “Interpreter’s Corner” concerning issues of interpretation, and a Q & A section. The number of issues published per year varied as did the length of the newsletter.</p>
<p>Several supplemental publications sprang from the Interpreter including <em>Fresh Advices, Questions & Answers</em>, and A<em> Cultural Time Line & Glossary for Williamsburg in the Eighteenth Century</em>. Fresh Advices offered discussions of recent research conducted by the Foundation and opportunities for applying it in the Historic Area. It was published infrequently from 1981-1987. <em>Questions & Answers</em> began and ended as a column in the <em>Interpreter</em>, but also existed as a supplemental publication from 1980-1989. It functioned as a means to answer common interpreter questions to the research department about eighteenth-century history and culture, Williamsburg area history, and Colonial Williamsburg itself. The one-time 1990 publication <em>A Cultural Time Line & Glossary for Williamsburg in the Eighteenth Century</em> consisted of a oversize poster-sized timeline and a glossary booklet. The time line included notable events in the Age of Enlightenment in the categories of politics, philosophy and religion, education, science and technology, fine arts and architecture, and performing arts and literature. The glossary was an expansion on selected entries from the time line to give more information on people and events that directly or indirectly influenced the development of colonial Virginia society.</p>
<p>An index to the <em>Interpreter</em> and its supplemental publications may be found here: <a href="http://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/library/_files/Interpreter.pdf">Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter Index, 1980-2009</a>.</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter, volume 3, number 4, July, 1982
Description
An account of the resource
Jill’s Household Effects -- Breathing Life Into History -- The King’s English -- The Exchange -- Occurrences