Mary Alexander & Rod Cofield demonstrating questionable customer service

This week, I returned from the Small Museum Association conference energized and full of ideas about using technology in museums, collections management, and improving the visitor experience at historic sites. The picture above came from one of the best sessions I attended, which used improvisational techniques to demonstrate some of the more interesting scenarios attendees had been subjected to at museums. The session was led by Mary Alexander from the Maryland Historical Trust and Rod Cofield from Historic London Town and Gardens. Their organizations, along with the Maryland Association of History Museums, are offering a workshop series over the next three years that explores the theme of “the visitor-centered museum.” The next workshop, called Connecting Visitors to Collections, is on May 21, and sounds fantastic. More information about the workshops, including video from the last one, can be found on the “Creating the Visitor-Centered Museum” website.

High and Mighty Pug, 1782

I don’t know what I would do without the Lewis Walpole Library prints. Every time I find myself lacking inspiration for a Friday blog post I just start browsing and find something delightful. This week’s selection redresses an inequality on the blog; I am, in case it hasn’t been obvious, a cat-owner. I have posted several historical images of cats, but have been a bit neglectful of the canine community. I decided to make up for it this week, and to post not only a dog, but a pug. That happens to be the favorite breed of Hammond-Harwood House Director Carter Lively. This is a political pug too: in this print from 1782, entitled “The high and mighty pug answering Fox’s proposals of peace,” the pug represents the country of Holland and the fox is the English politician Charles Fox. I don’t think it looks like their negotiations are going very well, but I still find them both adorable.

Daffin House

I have Facebook on the brain because I am preparing to present a workshop on museums and Facebook at the Small Museum Association Conference on February 19th. I have to convince people who work and volunteer at small, often-understaffed museums that establishing a Facebook presence is worth their time and effort. I’m sure some will be more resistant than others, but I hope that the success that Hammond-Harwood House has had in using Facebook to reach out to our local community as well as people around the world will be a convincing example of what social media can do for a historic site. If you haven’t checked out our Facebook page, you can find it here. We post information, questions, and photographs often; this photo of Daffin House, the site for our Garden Party this year, was posted on Tuesday and has already gotten several “Likes.” Do me a favor and go add a few more!

From the Lewis Walpole Library

One of the blogs about historical costume that I like to look at, American Duchess, used the frustration that came from doing her taxes as inspiration for a post full of 18th century satirical prints about taxes. When I saw this one, I just had to post it. Many luxury items were taxed in England in the late 18th century, including hair powder. In this print from 1795, this family full of wig-wearers has decided that they must do without, and wear their wigs as is. The young lady peering in the mirror looks rather distressed about it…

Image from the collection of the Maryland Historical Society

The watercolor, which is from the collection of the Maryland Historical Society, is entitled An Overseer Doing His Duty, Near Fredericksburg. It provides a stark view of the reality of 18th century life and work, and a useful reminder that as interpreters of history we need to teach our visitors about the people whose lives may not be as immediately visible but whose labor made the lavish lifestyles and grand homes of the upper-class possible.

From the Lewis Walpole Library

To clarify, I do not feel like the cute kitchen maid with her frills and bows; no, I feel more like the grimy chimney sweeper. But as long as Hammond-Harwood House is sparkling, it’s worth it!

Kids who visit the Hammond-Harwood House always want to know why there’s no bathroom. Adults want to know too, but they’re a little more hesitant to ask. We tell them about chamber pots and outhouses, and they get appropriately grossed out, but there were actually flushing toilets in the 18th century. The first patent for one was issued to Alexander Cummings in 1775. Cummings’ innovation was the S-trap, which used water to seal the toilet bowl’s outlet and prevent foul smells from rising from the pipes. The drawing above is a design patented by Joseph Bramah in 1778. He replaced the slide valve of Cummings’ design with a hinged flap. Apparently Queen Victoria’s house on the Isle of Wight, Osbourne House, still has functioning Bramah toilets. Historic toilet tour, anyone?

From the British Museum

This has been a busy week, as we’ve returned from our holiday break and are making all sorts of plans for the year ahead. So I thought I would kick off the blogging year with another fun satirical print. This one features Miss Wicket and Miss Trigger, two well-to-do young ladies engaged in the very unladylike activities of hunting and cricket. If you look closely, you’ll see that Miss Trigger is treading upon a paper with the word “Effeminacy” on it. Apparently the artist feels that sports are not compatible with femininity. I, however, am just impressed that someone could score that many points in cricket while wearing petticoats and heels.