Away from prying eyes, damaging light, pilfering hands the most special collections are kept in closed stacks. An appointment in necessary to view the objects, letters, and books that open a door to the past.
Here, pieces of material culture are examined in the light.
The stacks are open.
I am a historian, writer, weaver, and fiddler based in Baltimore, Maryland. I love how special collections can be, but I also love the accessibility the internet creates. My blog is dedicated to those interesting finds.
I have a Masters of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing from Goucher College and I'm drawn to historical nonfiction. My thesis focused on the decline of midwifery and the rise of obstetrics from 1910 to 1930, which serves as a platform to examine the cultural history of our relationship with doctors since the beginning of the twentieth century.
I came to writing by way of museums. At the Mount Clare Museum House in Baltimore, I co-curated an exhibit on the art and craft of modern teapots within the context of a colonial mansion. I also researched the manumission of slaves from the property through a Network to Freedom grant. I moved to West Virginia, where I worked with multiple organizations to promote heritage tourism. At the Upshur County Historical Society, I digitized and archived their local history collection; edited the reminiscences of a member of the community; and wrote for their journal. I produced a CD of field recordings from banjo player and ballad singer Currence Hammonds through the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia. I also assisted in the creation of exhibits at the Beverly Heritage Center.
I graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with degrees in History and Modern Languages. My honors thesis was on the German Historical Museum in Berlin, Germany and identity creation in museums.
In my free time, I weave on a four-harness floor loom, play the fiddle with banjo-maker Pete Ross, and volunteer with non-profits that promote cancer awareness like There Goes My Hero, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, and First Descents.
I have a Masters of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing from Goucher College and I'm drawn to historical nonfiction. My thesis focused on the decline of midwifery and the rise of obstetrics from 1910 to 1930, which serves as a platform to examine the cultural history of our relationship with doctors since the beginning of the twentieth century.
I came to writing by way of museums. At the Mount Clare Museum House in Baltimore, I co-curated an exhibit on the art and craft of modern teapots within the context of a colonial mansion. I also researched the manumission of slaves from the property through a Network to Freedom grant. I moved to West Virginia, where I worked with multiple organizations to promote heritage tourism. At the Upshur County Historical Society, I digitized and archived their local history collection; edited the reminiscences of a member of the community; and wrote for their journal. I produced a CD of field recordings from banjo player and ballad singer Currence Hammonds through the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia. I also assisted in the creation of exhibits at the Beverly Heritage Center.
I graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with degrees in History and Modern Languages. My honors thesis was on the German Historical Museum in Berlin, Germany and identity creation in museums.
In my free time, I weave on a four-harness floor loom, play the fiddle with banjo-maker Pete Ross, and volunteer with non-profits that promote cancer awareness like There Goes My Hero, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, and First Descents.
