Visitors to Kenmore’s Drawing Room may have noticed an unusual pairing of glassware and ceramic pieces displayed on the gaming table - a beautiful, air-twist stem wine glass sitting next to a Westerwald pottery jug. At first glance, this small vignette may simply appear to depict a wine jug at the ready, waiting to fill … Continue reading Liberty vs. The King: National Identities in Two Lewis Family Drinking Vessels
American identity
Why Did Yankee Doodle Call a Feather “Macaroni”?
In honor of the Independence Day tomorrow, I want to talk about a pressing question I had as a child pertaining to one of our most popular patriotic songs "Yankee Doodle". We all know the first verse. Yankee Doodle went to town A-riding on a pony, Stuck a feather in his cap And called it … Continue reading Why Did Yankee Doodle Call a Feather “Macaroni”?
LiberTEA
With hindsight, the events of history often seem inevitable. America was destined for independence from Britain. All colonists were patriots who saw themselves as a nation and a people separate from the mother country. This was absolutely not the case. Colonists’ views on the appropriateness of independence evolved with events. Over time, British identity gave … Continue reading LiberTEA
Why Did Yankee Doodle Call a Feather “Macaroni”?
In honor of the Independence Day, I want to talk about a pressing question I had as a child pertaining to one of our most popular patriotic songs "Yankee Doodle". We all know the first verse. Yankee Doodle went to town A-riding on a pony, Stuck a feather in his cap And called it macaroni. … Continue reading Why Did Yankee Doodle Call a Feather “Macaroni”?
Coffee: A Revolutionary Drink
The history of coffee is long and complex and can never be fully explored in a single blog post, however, because of my admiration for the caffeinated beverage I wanted to learn how the colonist utilized coffee. Fortunately, in the collections at Kenmore, we not only have a selection of 18th century coffeepots and cups … Continue reading Coffee: A Revolutionary Drink
Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke It: Tobacco & Politics in the 1700s
Colonial American. Think about that term. What does it mean to you? It refers to citizens of the American colonies prior to the Revolution. In the minds of many of us in the present-day United States, however, it might denote a unique American identity, probably because our own identities as Americans are firmly set and … Continue reading Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke It: Tobacco & Politics in the 1700s
Lives & Legacies 