Wealth on the Shelf
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Colonial Williamsburg master bookbinder Bruce Plumley describes hand bookbinding and discusses the value of books during the colonial era, including the value of Thomas Jefferson's personal library.
Fashion and Function
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Brooke Welborn, a journeywoman milliner and mantua maker at Colonial Williamsburg, describes colonial women's undergarments, the ways in which dress determined or was determined by women's social roles and class, and the trade of millinery and mantua making. For more information on 18th century clothing, click here.
For What Ails You
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Medical historian Susan Pryor describes the role of the apothecary in the colonial society, and looks at colonial understanding of disease and treatment.
The Stamp Act
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Britain's tax on paper goods was unremarkable in itself, but the colonies' furious response surprised two continents. Historian Linda Rowe talks about the Stamp Act.
Charlton's Coffeehouse
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Architectural historian Ed Chappell explains the reconstruction of the Charlton Coffeehouse in Colonial Williamsburg and the function of the coffeehouse when it stood.
Tobacco in the Colonies
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Rural tradesman Wayne Randolph describes the farming of tobacco and the importance of the crop to colonial Virginia.
Recreating a Cannon, Part One
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Revolutionary-era cannon are artifacts of war technology's evolution. Director of Historic Trades Jay Gaynor and Master Blacksmith Ken Schwarz describe the process of recreating a light infantry three-pounder.
Click here for part two of this podcast.
Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site [TX]
Description
A double-pen, cedar log dogtrot house, Fanthorp Inn was built by an English immigrant, Henry Fanthorp, when Texas was part of Mexico. Fanthorp petitioned Stephen F. Austin in 1832 for permission to settle in this Original Austin Colony. He bought 1,100 acres and built his house in 1834 on the road that crossed his land, thus bringing travelers to his door immediately. Henry Fanthorp was appointed Postmaster by the Provisional Texas Government in 1835 and saw the advantage of offering other services and goods to his frequent visitors. Within time, Fanthorp's became a well-known stopping place for both travelers and the community.
The site offers tours, stagecoach rides, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).
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The Tenement Museum website provides engaging and entertaining ways to introduce young students to primary sources.
The Tenement Museum website provides engaging
The “Elementary School Lesson” found under “Primary Source Activities” uses a family photo, a postcard, a report card, and a passport to examine the life of Victoria Confino, an immigrant girl at the turn of the 20th century.
Because these sources are mostly visual, they allow easier access for young students and English language learners than text-dense sources.
- The lesson provides useful guiding questions for the teacher:
- when helping students examine the documents.
- After students have discussed the sources,
- they are asked to write a paragraph about Victoria’s life.
The History Box
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A gateway and an archive of numerous articles on New York history, this site "focuses a particularly long lens on the early history of political and economic events, panics, riots and other related matters affecting or contributing to New York City's development and growth." Its main feature is the New York state and New York City directories. (The U.S. directory is currently unavailable.) The New York state directory offers more than 700 links and more than 60 articles organized under 21 topics that include the arts, cities and counties, ethnic groups, military, societies and associations, transportation, women and their professions, and worship.
The New York City directory offers more than 5,200 links and more than 700 articles organized under 58 topics that include architecture, the arts, business matters, city government, clubs and societies, crime and punishment, education, ethnic groups, 5th Avenue, Harlem, immigration, New York City panics, real estate, temperance and prohibition, and Wall Street. The visitor can search the entire site or each directory by keyword. This site is a good starting point for researching the history of New York. It should also be useful for literary scholars, writers, and historical societies.