History 346  The Gilded Age

Roger Williams University

SB 316

M - Th 3:30- 4:50

Spring Semester, 2016

Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.

Office:  GHH 215

Hours:  M, W, F,  12:00 - 1:30

Phone:  254-3230

E-mail:  mswanson@rwu.edu

For Monday, March  21    

For Thursday, March 24

Read, in Chambers,

Chapter 1 “Crisis of the 1890s” pp.  1-24

As you read this chapter, be aware of the typographic devices: headings, sub-headings, and the like.  Decide how the topics described in them are likely to affect you.  Will they effect you directly or indirectly? greatly or to a lesser degree? positively or negatively?  To some extent you’ll be in charge here. As you meditate on the possibilities, focus on the reasonable ones, given the character you’ve created for yourself.  I’ll like to create a cumulative list for the class as a whole, so bring notes with you for this particular discussion.

The Centennial Exposition.  An excursion for our alter-egos. 

Read: in Schlereth, Prologue, pp. 1-6

On the Internet

• The Illustrated History of the Centennial Exposition (Selections)
  

• The Centennial Exhibition, Described and Illustrated (Selections)
  

• The Herald Guide Book and Directory to the Centennial International Exhibition at Philadelphia
  

• Souvenir of the Centennial exhibition
  

• The stranger's illustrated pocket guide to Philadelphia  
  

• Official catalogue by United States Centennial Commission   (art)
  

• The Centennial visitor's companion and guide book  
  

• Our show ; a humorous account of the International Exposition in honor of the centennial anniversary
  

• Official catalogue by United States Centennial Commission.
  

Aside from reading all of Schlereth, It is difficult for me to describe what I want you to do here, and I can’t do it in terms of number of Pages, so I’m going to do it in terms of hours–a minimum of  six of them between tomorrow and the the next class.  I want you to “go” to the fair, using these  sources and following your interests.  Record your pages read and titles and upload that to your resource folder.  There's nothing much to contend with this weekend, , so I should be able to get six hours out of each of you. Actually I’m hoping you’ll get so entranced by what you see and read about that you’ll be surprised at how hard it is to put the material down.    Upload illustrations to your resources if you wish and I hope you wish. Remember Irfanview) I'm going to ask you to tell your friends and family (us) a little about your experience, perhaps with some "show and tell" to keep us amused.  This narrative can go into your diary. If it would be more appropriate for your character to work at the exposition, why not try that tack.  Of course there were many temporary workers during the running of the exposition, and others who put it up and took it down. 

Read, in Schlereth,

Chapter 4. "Consuming," pp. 140-167

Visit The Founders of Sears, Roebuck And Company.This is a student project produced at the American Culture Studies program at Bowling Green States University. Follow the links and get some sense of the importance of this merchandising giant in the 1890s. Imagine your alter ego's encounter with Sears.  The pages is archived, so the links may not all work.

This class period we'll look at changes in American patterns of consumption, which include the creation of a new shopping environment, the Department Store, and a perfected merchandising tool made possible by improvements in mail delivery and in the railroads, the mail order catalog.

The new emphasis on spend, spend, spend, and have, have, have was not without its critics, both then and now. How much good that criticism did--we're still consuming.

A consuming culture is also an advertising culture.   We have to be told what we "can't live without".  The new advertising agencies were happy to tell us.  You can peruse the materials hidden behind the pictures above,  You might also enjoy perusing other advertising materials from the time.  Duke University  has kindly provided you with many primary sources.  Construct a wish list from them and add that to your journal.  Be ready for "show and tell".  Make a folder in your resources for convenience's sake.