{"id":12,"date":"2012-08-25T08:33:02","date_gmt":"2012-08-25T15:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2013-08-08T09:19:10","modified_gmt":"2013-08-08T16:19:10","slug":"historic-interpretation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/historic-interpretation\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Interpretation"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s<\/strong><\/em><\/span> not a life, a death, or birth<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

That has a feather’s weight of worth<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Without a woman in it.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Kate Field in John Nelson’s Worcester County, Vol. II.<\/em> New York: The American Historical Society, 1934.<\/span><\/p>\n

The art of bringing historic characters to life means finding their documented causes and positions and then speak or write in their “voice”. \u00a0The danger is that it is still the interpretation of the speaker or writer. \u00a0 Objects from the past also provide insight into what life was life at a particular time and place. \u00a0 Here are examples from the<\/span> Worcester Women’s History Project Newsletter,<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0Vol. 1, No. 12, Summer 2001.<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Celebrating Equality<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
\"\"Sarah Hussey Earle (1799\u20131858)<\/div>\n

Dear Reformers,<\/p>\n

Thank you for continuing the effort we began at the first National Woman\u2019s Rights Convention held here in Worcester on October 23\u201324,1850. I was so proud to open that historic event which organized the woman\u2019s rights movement.<\/p>\n

It is indeed fitting you also celebrate the August 26, 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution. Our convention called for just such an act seventy years earlier.<\/p>\n

Change is certainly a slow process, but the two wars after my death did much to hinder and help the struggle. Reformers also gradually realized they must agree to disagree in order to move the greater cause forward.<\/p>\n

On that historic day the power of \u201cthe hand that rocks the cradle\u201d became evident when 24-year-old Tennessee State Representative Harry Burns received a telegram from his mother urging him to \u201cBe a good boy and vote for suffrage\u2026\u201d His single ballot ruled the day.<\/p>\n

It pleases me to know this took place on the anniversary of my birth. Please use your elective franchise to raise high the banner for \u201cEquality before the law, without distinction of color or sex\u201d in the 21st century.<\/p>\n

Your loving friend,
\nSarah H. Earle<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Exhibiting History<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This March and April, WWHP had nine display cases at the Worcester Public Library on Fremont Street. The theme was \u201cCelebrate Women\u201d and highlighted last October\u2019s WOMEN 2000 conference.<\/p>\n

Design and setup were by Nancy Avila, Carolyn Howe, Laura Howie, Barbara Ingrassia, Linda Rosenlund, and Karen Moran assisted by Sharon Smith Viles and Nancy Austin.<\/p>\n

Karen and Sharon, with Nancy Austin as a consultant, produced a provocative exhibit about how to dress 150 years ago. Included were a costume from Angels and Infidels, a cast photo and primary source documents. A mobile was hung in the display case to show all the layers of undergarments. Here are some of the questions and concepts for thought and discussion presented by the exhibition:<\/p>\n