Readings for Rural Life

From Moore’s Rural New-Yorker in Rochester, NY

August 6th, 1864

Dried Fruit for Soldiers

Mrs. E. J. Roberts, Secretary of the Soldiers Aid Society, New Haven, Mass., has issued the following circular:

Dried Fruit vs. Jellies. – As the time of fruits has again come round, we would remind our friends in town and country that the Sanitary Commission has expressed a decided preference for dried fruits, instead of jellies, for the army, on account of the waste and breakage from fermentation during the heat of the summer, and the difficulties of packaging. The high price of sugar is an additional recommendation to dried fruit. The following recipes are considered good:

Fruit dried with sugar, &c., – to a pound of currants put a quarter pound of sugar. Boil together for a minute – that is, let them just come to the boiling – spread them on plates and set them in the sun for two days; then if they are not sufficiently dried, set them in the oven for a little while. When dry, they can be packed in stone or earthen jars, or wooden boxes.

Blackberry Cordial – Put your berries into a jar, which must be set into a kettle of water to boil for a few minutes; then extract the juice as you do for currant jelly. To a pint of juice put a pound of sugar and a small teacup of brandy. It does not need boiling again, and is fit for use immediately.

Another – To one quart of blackberry juice put a tablespoonful of ground cloves, cinnamon and allspice; boil ten or fifteen minutes, then add a half pound of sugar, and when cool a half pint of alcohol, to which should be added nearly the same amount of water.

 

*I find it interesting, and a bit annoying, that the writer encourages dried fruits, but only includes one recipe. While there is an additional column coming up, I will try to find some additional dried fruit recipes.

 

The Dress Question

[We have sundry communications on this question which indicated the current opinion on the subject, and we give such of them as we can find room for in this number of the Rural.]

Eds. Rural New-Yorker: – As the subject of dress is being discussed through the columns of the Rural, I should like to say a few words to the ladies. I am not going to talk to those who sit idly in parlors, or spend their time in useless employ; except to simply say, keep still, ‘tis none of your business what those wear who see fit to do their duty.

I advocate dress reform. I have worn short dresses for the past three years, and find them much more convenient than the long trailing dresses, which require one hand to keep them from under the feet, and out of slops and mud, thereby leaving but one hand entirely free to work with. I think those who have worn short dresses will agree with me in saying they are a great saving, in both time and patience. I have done more work within the last three years than I could possibly have done had I been obliged to have kept one hand occupied in taking care of long skirts. And, sisters, noble women of the North, now is the time to work if we ever do; while our brothers are fighting for the Union, we should not sit idly down and wait for the victory, but do our duty, and do it faithfully, as become the women of such a nation.

A word to the gentlemen and I close. Gentlemen, I do not advocate short dresses anywhere but at home, at work. At church and on the street, I think long dresses much more becoming, and wear them myself. Short ones are only for work; have you any objections to them there? If you have, I would suggest that you put on long skirts, and wear them for one week, wash, mop, milk, work in the garden, and if necessary help plant corn. If you don’t lay them aside at the end of the week and say ladies, wear short dresses to work in by all means, you have more patience than falls tot helot of most mortals. Stellie. Prarie Home, Mich,. 1864

 

Published in: on August 6, 2014 at 6:00 am  Comments (3)  
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“Throw Back Thursday” – Previous Articles

For those who do not know, “Throw back Thursday” is a trend that has moved its way to Facebook resulting in the sharing of older photographs. Well, as many of us history minded folks do, I have twisted the idea a bit.

For this “Throw back Thursday” I am sharing with you a piece of my Google Drive, a folder of “older” articles I wrote from 2010 and before.

Anna’s “Older” Articles Folder

This is partially me wanting to make sure this old work isn’t collecting digital dust; I want it to be useful. This is also me making friends with Google Drive, seeing what it can do so I can actually use it for work/school.

Be sure to read the READ ME file first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Readings for Rural Life

From Moore’s Rural New-Yorker in Rochester, NY

July 23rd, 1864

Sensible Talk About Waltzing

Waltzing is a profane and vicious dance always. When it is prosecuted in the center of a great crowd, in a dusty hall, on a warm and summer day, it is also a disgusting dance. Night is its only appropriate time. The blinding, dazzling gas light throws a grateful glare over the salient points of its indecency, and blends the whole into a wild whirl that dizzies and doses one; but the uncompromising afternoon, pouring in through the manifold windows, tears away every illusion, and reveals the whole coarseness and commonness and all the repulsive details of this most alien and unmaidenly revel. The very pose of this dance is profanity.

Attitudes which are the instinctive expression of intimate emotions, glowing rosy red in the auroral time of tenderness and unabashed freedom only by a long and faithful habitude of unselfish devotion, are here openly, deliberately and carelessly assumed by the people who have but a casual and partial society acquaintance. This I reckon profanity. This is levity the most culpable. This is a guilty and wanton waste of delicacy. That it is practiced by good girls and tolerated by good mothers, does not prove that it is good. Custom blunts the edge of many perceptions. A good thing soiled may be redeemed by good people; but waltz as much as you may, spotless maidens, you will only smut yourselves, and not cleanse the waltz. It is itself unclean.

There is another thing which girls and their mothers do not seem to consider. The present mode of dress renders waltzing almost as objectionable in a large room as the boldest feats of a French ballet-dancer. Not to put too fine a point on it, I mean that these girls’ gyrations, in the center of their gyrating and centrifugal hoops, makes a most operatic drapery display. I saw scores and scores of public waltzing girls last summer, and among them I saw but one who understood the art, or, at any time, who practiced the art of avoiding an indecent exposure. In the glare and glamour of gas-light it is only flash and clouds and indistinctness. In the broad and honest daylight it is not. Do I shock ears polite? I trust so. If the saying of shocking things might prevent the doing of shocking things I should be well content. And is it an unpardonable thing for me to sit alone in my own room and write about what you go into a great hall, before hundreds of strange men and women, and to?

I do not speak thus about waltzing because I like to say it; but ye have compelled me. If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. I respect and revere woman, and I can not see her destroying or debasing the impalpable fragrance and delicacy of her nature and without feeling the shame and shudder in my own heart. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, because great is my glory of you. My opinions may be rustic – they are at least honest; and may it not be that the first impressions of any unprejudiced observer are as likely to be natural or correct views as these which are the result of many after-thoughts, long use, and an experience of multifold fascinations, combined with the original producing cause? My opinions may be wrong, but they can do no harm; they penalty will rest alone on me; while if they are right they may serve as a nail or two, to be fastened by the masters of assemblies. At. Monthly.

 

Published in: on July 23, 2014 at 6:05 am  Leave a Comment  
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Readings for Rural Life

From Moore’s Rural New-Yorker in Rochester, NY

July 23rd, 1864

Female Independence

In the present age of the world, as, indeed, in all ages, female self-dependence and independence, are very seldom constitutes of the female character – the lack of which no intellectual nor moral accomplishment can supply. The modern female born and reared the younger portion of her life, perhaps, in the home circle, and when she has attained a proper age, is transported to a fashionable boarding school, where she may expand her intellect to the supposed utmost limits – where she attains, in her opinion, to the highest degree of female excellence, and enters upon the cares and vicissitudes of life. But upon departing from the parental roof, how very seldom has she been found to possess the most substantial basis of female honor and respect, vis: Independence!

In is conclusively proved that the female mind, if left unchained and free from all common lady traits, is capable of as broad expansion, and as sound thoughts, as the opposite sex; and although they have been heretofore the subjects of ridicule, and sometimes of public amusement on account of their innumerable foolish weaknesses and foibles – yet, by self-culture and independence of mind to resist the tempting allurements of the fashionable worl, and obey the dictates of common sense and sound judgment, they may lay up a store of information and science, which they now can not appreciate, because of their fondness of novels and fictitious writings, which they can summon to their use at all times, and which will prove a passport through cultivated society, more reliable and more respected than mere external beauty.

How common a circumstance it is to see young and middle-aged female puffed up with price and self-exaltation, who have not independence sufficient to oppose public opinion, but are guided wholly by the opinions of others and prevailing fashion! And how many devoted mothers sacrifice the comforts and even the necessaries of life to educate and accomplish their daughters, in whom, perhaps, there is not the least hope of future usefulness. It is a lamentable fact that the majority of females at the present day, have no more exalted view or aim in life than their own personal gratification in the way of dress and food, and allow their minds to grow gradually weaker until they are entirely engrossed in idle gossip or the most trivial subjects of earth.

But it may be asked how can this defect in female character be remedied? By simply turning our attention from trifles, applying our energy and zeal to some purer mental and moral excellence than is generally stained by those who are termed ladies.

If this great, visible defect could be supplied in the female mind, the world would be freed of a vast amount of female gossip and dependence upon others, and their views of life would be exalted; they would strive to emulate those who are worthy, and ere long the great fact would illumine their dependent minds, that by a little exertion on their part, a little more genuine thought, they might release themselves from  the fetter of entire dependence on male intellect, and gain such a store of knowledge as will be their guide and support at all times without the overseeing hand of man.

It is to be hoped that before many generations shall pass, females will avail themselves of independent minds, and stand before the world in the highest sense, ladies. A. Aikin. Tekonsha, Mich., 1864

 

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Readings for Rural Life

From Moore’s Rural New-Yorker in Rochester, NY

July 16th, 1864

Woman’s Work Enlarged by the War.

The social condition of woman is being influenced by our civil, war, to a larger extent than is generally supposed. Silently and imperceptibly, and also rapidly and surely, a revolution is being effected which seems destined to accomplish the work of years in a few months, and produce an important and lasting change in all the relations of society. The withdrawal during the last three years of a million and a half of men from industrial pursuits, has produced a deficiency in the labor market which for some time past, has been opened to them which have been hitherto closed. The change is also hastened by the various trades combinations and the increase of wages, which makes it the interest of employers to seek other sources to supply the demand for laborers.

 

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Readings for Rural Life

From Moore’s Rural New-Yorker in Rochester, NY

July 2nd, 1864

Advantages of Crying

A French physician is out in a long dissertation on the advantages of groaning and crying in general, and especially during surgical operations. He contends that groaning and crying are the two grand operations by which nature allays anguish; that those patients who give way to their natural feelings more speedily recover from accidents and operations than those who suppose it unworthy a man to betray such symptoms of cowardice as either to groan or to cry. He tells a man who reduced his pulse from one hundred and twenty-six to sixty in the course of two hours, by giving full vent to his emotions. If people are at all unhappy about anything, let them go into their rooms and comfort themselves with a loud boohoo, and they will feel a hundred per cent better afterwards.

In accordance with the above, the crying of children should not be too greatly discouraged. If it is systematically repressed, the result may be St. Vitae’s dance, epileptic fits, or some other disease of the nervous system. What is natural is nearly always useful, and nothing can be more natural than the crying of children when any thing occurs to them either physical or mental pain.

Probably most persons have felt the effect of tears in relieving great sorrow. It is even curious how the feelings are allayed by their free indulgence in groans and sighs. Then let parents and friends show more indulgence to noisy bursts of grief, on the part of children as well as older persons, and regard the eyes and the mouth as the safety-valves through which nature discharges her surplus steam.

 

Published in: on July 2, 2014 at 6:06 am  Leave a Comment  
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Examples of Trunks

trays1

One on the Left is pre-CW. One on the Right is post-CW

Jenny Lind TrunkDome top trunkLid compartmentswpid-2012-06-17-14.28.12.jpg wpid-2012-06-17-14.22.49.jpg wpid-2012-06-17-14.21.47.jpg wpid-2012-06-17-14.21.02.jpg

Published in: on June 30, 2014 at 2:28 pm  Comments (2)  

Dad’s and My Trunk Article

Here is the article Dad and I wrote in 2006:
 
Types of trunks
By Anna Worden and Floyd Worden
 
            Many of us want to use trunks during our living history events for various reasons, storage, transportation, furniture, scenario enhancement and interpretation. There are many situations where the use of a trunk is appropriate. Trunks were used for short-term travel and relocation as well as home storage. Multiple diaries and journals refer to getting trunks ready or having trunks searched during the war. If we choose to include a trunk for whichever reason, there are several factors to consider when choosing which trunk to use. In the two decades prior to the Civil War trunks made by individuals and by companies creating a variety of trunks available. Trunks could be completely made in a factory with machine parts, made by hand with some machine made parts or occasionally still made entirely by hand. While some trunks were very basic, others were made for specific purposes or for a specific market. Advertisers listed trunks for ladies and trunks for gentlemen. They also make some distinction between these and packing and traveling trunks. Large trunks were made to harness to a carriage, often by a harness maker. Smaller trunks were made easy to handle for stage travel. Specialized trunks were also made for a variety of purposes.
 
 
 
Before and during the Civil War
 

This is a Post-CW Trunk based on the lock. Just an example of a flat top.

This is a Post-CW Trunk based on the lock. Just an example of a flat top.

Flat top trunks were popular for many decades prior to the Civil War then again from 1870 to 1920. The frame of these trunks is most often wood, though some patents suggest a metal frame in addition to the wood. The wood is most often covered with canvas, oiled canvas and eventually paper and metal. In pre-war trunks, the trunk body is supported with wood slats, metal trim and metal or leather hardware. Some later trunks are covered with sheet metal.  The basic frame and support structure of the flat top trunk is applied to most round and dome top trunks. Some flat tops developed into dresser, wall or desk trunks.

 

Round top 1864

Round top trunk circa 1864. This trunk is covered with “Western Squares” paper patented in 1864. The trunk body is constructed from wood, supported by iron stripes at the edges and lid lip. Narrower straps are mimicked in the decorative paper studded with buttons. Lock pairs are less common than a single lock.

Round top trunks have lids that are rounded front to back and not rounded on the sides. The rounded shape can be rather shallow, almost undetectable from a distance or very deep. The slats on the top of the lid can run end to end or be curved and run front to back. If the slats run front to back, they are bent to the shape of the lid. The front, back and side slats can run horizontally or vertically. The slats of a round top trunk are often wider than flat top trunks. These trunks are most often covered in a combination of leather, metal and canvas. Additional compartmentalized storage is created in the round top (see below.)

 

Dome top trunk

Shallow dome top trunk circa 1854 – 1875. There is a patent identification located on the lock plate marked May 1854. This trunk is labeled inside “From W. R. Drakeford, Manufacture of and Dealer in Harness, Saddles, Bridles, Whips, Trunks, Blankets and every description of Horse Furnishing Goods, 132 Canisteo St., Cor. Park, Hornellsville, N.Y. Canvas Trunk Covers Made to Order.” The wooden stave on the lid runs side to side. It would have been hand bent/shaped for the lid. This trunk retains a pair of buckles and part of their leather straps.

Dome top trunks curve front to back and side to side. They are also called Humpback and camelback trunks. The domes can be very shallow or very high and deep. The basic body of the trunk is constructed in the same way a flat or round top trunk is. The difference, of course, is the lid. The lid slats bend with the shape of the lid whether they run from side to side or front to back. These slats would have been bent by hand. Dome trunks are covered with paper, plain or embossed tin, leather or a combination of these.

                       
Stage Coach Trunks or travel trunks became popular a few decades prior to the Civil War as travel by train or train increased. These trunks were most often wider than their height, such as 28 inches wide, 15 inches tall and 16 inches deep. Fully packed these trunks could be lifted atop a stage for travel.
 

Jenny Lind Trunk

Jenny Lind trunk, circa 1850-1870. Constructed from 14 pine boards. Ends and lid lip secured by iron straps. May or may not have been covered with leather. (Found with layers of green paint.) This trunk used to have leather straps, handles (replaced) and lock cover. 27.5”wide by 16” deep by 13” high.

Jenny Lind Trunks were a popular form of travel trunk from about 1850 to 1870. These trunks were named after the popular Swedish singer Jenny Lind the “Swedish Nightingale”. Jenny Lind trunks are easy to identify by their shape. Looking from the end, the trunk outline resembles a  keyhole, bread loaf or hour-glass. They were most often made of pine boards then covered in leather and bound with metal bands around ends and edges. Straps often wrapped from back to front, buckling in the front. The metal bands were studded with brass buttons. Size varied for these trunks, each being fairly easy to carry due to their width to height dimensions.

 
Leather Trunks are wood base trunks covered in leather. There were many types of leather-covered trunks made through the 1800s (and prior). Sadly, these trunks often suffer great damage to the leather over time. Advertisements list trunks made with rawhide, sole leather and hide. Some leather trunks are very early and vary in size. These are completely covered in leather. Decorative and identifying marks were added with studs or “buttons”. As time progressed into the 1800s, leather or hardware was added to the exterior. Smaller trunks would have handles on the top instead of or in addition to the side handles. Shapes include flat and dome tops. On flat tops, edges at front and back could be curved. Some leather-covered trunks are called “immigrant trunks” though immigrants used not all trunks of this style, nor did immigrants solely use leather-covered trunks.
 
New and variant designs show up all through the United States patents and advertisements. There were new ideas to make a trunk more useful, more accessible, more secure or safer. You can find trunks that dual as beds, desks, or dressers. One commonly adopted variation was the half trunk. Half trunks are those that are roughly half the width of a regular trunk so that from above the shape would b almost square. These trunks were advantageous for 1850’s train travel for women because a few days clothing could fit inside with a space for a bonnet at the top.  
 
 
Post War
 
Saratoga trunks were very large trunks most frequently having a dome top.  Most secondary sources list Saratoga trunks becoming popular in the 1870s when the New York resort of the same name was popular. But, in the Columbus Enquirer, the Trunk Depot lists Saratoga trunks in their advertisement. This was in 1860.
 
Steamer trunks were intended to stay with the owner while on a ship voyage while larger luggage was stored away. These were most popular from 1890 through1910. They were usually about half the height of a 19th C. Flat top trunk.
           
Wardrobe trunks were often the same shape as a steamer trunk, but it opened when standing on end. The bottom, top or both was designed to hang clothing within. Some had drawers opposite the hanging section. These trunks would not have been practical for the dress of the
 
 
Basic anatomy
 
Slats are the wooden strips that support the trunk body. They can run vertically or horizontally on the bottom and front to back or side to side on the lid. Wood slats range from 1.5 inches to 4 inches wide. Later wood slats were replaced by metal ones.
 
Slat clamps or caps are the metal pieces that connect the wooden slats to the sides of the trunk or each other. They serve to strengthen the connections primarily. As trunks became more decorative, the hardware became more decorative.
 
Corner supports or caps are the metal, sometimes leather, pieces located on or very near the corners of the trunk. Supports and caps hold corners tightly together and serve to aid in the movement of the trunk. Most pre-war supports are “L” shaped. Three sided caps begin to appear toward the end of the 1850s or the beginning of the 1860s. The first patent using a three sided cap is dated ______.
 
Latches/draw-bolts/catches also called hasps.  These, normally in pairs on the front of the trunk, secure the lid closed.
 

locks1

Clockwise from top left. Images 1 & 2 are the lock from the shallow round top. The right shows the lock closed while the right shows the open keyhole. Image 3 is the lock from a Crocodile patterned Dome top trunk, circa 1850 to 1875. Note the handle above the lock in a different material. Image 4 is a flush mount lock from a specialty trunk made by Taylor Trunk Works circa 1868-1900. Image 5 is a handmade lock with latch, plate and pivoting keyhole cover. Image 6 is a lock from the Jenny Lind trunk Circa 1840-1860. Note this lock is internal. The leather cover is gone. You can see parts of the leather where it attached to the wood. The iron strap on the lid over the lock is bent.

Locks secure the trunk. There are several locks you may see on a trunk. Hasp locks swing down from the lid and secure to the body of the trunk. Chest locks have a panel built into the body and lid with locking mechanism hidden inside the closure.

 

Hinges1

Examples of hinges – Left to right – Two square hinges from hand made box/trunk and a Jenny Lind trunk. A combination hinge from a box. Three variations of triangular, gate style hinges.

Hinges enable the lid to open and close. Hinges come in variations of two basic styles, a rectangular hinge and a triangular hinge.

 

Caster patents

Three United States Patents for improvements in casters for trunks. The 1856 patent combines a caster with a threes sided trunk corner cap. The 1863 and 1855 patents are meant to help enable a trunk to be moved flat or upright.

Casters allow a trunk to roll when moved. Not all trunks have casters. Pre-war patents are shown for roller and ball castors.

 

types of handles

Top left – Handle from flat top Likely trunk, 1844-1870. Leather handle sewn at the edges and encased completely in hardware. Top right – Handle from post-war Taylor field desk trunk. The hardware is patented – Taylor Trunk Works Chicago patent Oct 23, 1883. Center – All leather handle. A single strip of leather secured directly to wood by nails. Lower left – Handle from round top trunk, circa 1840-1870. Note similarity to handle on the Likely trunk. Lower right – Handle from a round top trunk, circa 1840-1870.

Handles  Some handles were hand wrought iron attached directly to the trunk sides. Other handles were leather attached to the trunk with metal end caps or brackets. These metal pieces could be hand-wrought, punched or cast. As designs progressed, handle irons became more decorative and could serve a dual purpose as a catch.  The leather handles were created from layers of thick hide sewn together. Some trunk handles have designs pressed into the leather.

           
Leather straps help secure the lid closed. Straps usually run back to front or around the belly of the trunk. They are buckled in the front.
           
Exterior decoration Most coverings are placed directly on the wood under the wooded slats. The most common exterior was a simple plain canvas or oiled canvas. Decorative paper mimicking wood or leather designs is delicate. Several secondary sources list paper consider “Western Squares” a post 1870s covering but there are a couple 1860’s patents for similar papers and trunks with definitive 1850’s hardware with similar paper. Leather hide and sole leather covered trunks in whole or part. Plain and embossed tin was also used to cover trunks. Some trunks are divided into three sections on the front, top and back. The end sections match, while the center section frequently off sets the ends. This is seen frequently on dome or round top trunks.
 
Trays, inserts and compartments Trunks could have one or multiple trays in the lower portion and compartments in the lid. Trays could be simple or have compartments with separate lids or smaller trays. Compartments in the lids could be lidded, or have trays or drawers. Lid compartments or tray lids could have decorative portraits or scenes.
 
Lining Prior to the 1800s many trunks were not lined. Newspaper was used in the late 1700s and early 1800s in many trunks. In the early 1800s “some newsprint was embellished with decorative dots that were stamped onto the paper with wooden stamps and ink. This gave the impression of a polka dot pattern from a distance.” (Brettuns Village Trunks, outline of trunk chronology.) In the early 1800s printed-paper began being used to line trunks starting with simple patterns in dull colors. They were lined with paper through the late 1800s as cloth began being used.
 
Trunk covers Some household manuals and a few advertisements mention canvas covers for trunks. These covers would protect the trunk and contents from dust and some damage caused while moving. Other covers were patented with the intent of protecting the trunk from damage, breakage or water during travel. I have not yet seen these unique patents actually produced.
 
Closing thoughts:
Choosing a trunk for living history. While there are several reenacting situations where using a trunk is appropriate, not every trunk is appropriate. Anyone of us can wander through an antique shop, flea market or village yardsale and find a fabulous trunk. But, how do you determine if this fabulous trunk is suitable for reenacting? The first step is determining if this is the type of trunk you will need. Are you traveling by train or storing clothing during an event? If you are traveling during the event, you will want to be able to move the trunk easily. Consider a small flat top trunk or a travel trunk or a Jenny Lind trunk. If you are stationary during an event a slightly larger trunk may be useful. Consider a dome or curve top trunk if space is not an issue. If you need the trunk to serve as a functional piece of furniture, consider a flat top trunk. The second step is determining the age of the trunk. Looking at the hardware on the trunk can help determine age. Locks and end-caps can give a good idea of the date of a trunk. Most trunk restorers consider the popular machine made brass locks post Civil War. The three-sided end-caps began around mid-1850. The third step is considering location. Is this a trunk that you would have had in the region you are depicting? This is a minor question considering how frequently trunks moved around the country, and even across the ocean. If you are looking at a carriage trunk hand-made in Hornell, NY, you may not want it for an event in Alabama.
 
Using a trunk for living history. Just like there are things to consider in choosing a trunk there are things to consider in using a trunk. While it is very tempting to use a beautiful trunk you find at an auction, antique shop, flea market or yard sale, remember the trunk is an antique. Most likely the trunk does not appear as it did in 1855 or 1860. It is important to consider the discrepancy of appearance between now and then. Beyond the impression is the integrity of the trunk. This antique is 130 to 150 years old with weakened wood, hardware and handles. You need to take good care of the trunk. My general rules for my trunks include – never moving it by the handles, never packing it full or heavy, never putting it where it might get damp or wet and never storing anything heavy on top. I also prefer a trunk I can move myself and that fits in the back seat of my car. (The trunk of a car is a dangerous place for your trunk and your back.) It is possible to find a trunk that has reached the end of its days and restore it to be useful. This is worth considering in order to avoid damaging a nice trunk at an event.
 

 

 

Recommended ReadingGeneral

  • United States Patent Office – The Patent Office site contains hundreds of trunk and trunk related patents.
  • Advertisements for trunks and trunk related items in newspapers, books and magazines can be interesting. I highly suggest the Library of Congress American Memory site and Vicki Bett’s Newspaper Research, 1861-1865.  (http://www.uttyler.edu/vbetts)
  •  The Library of Congress website also contains catalogs for trunks:Homans, I. Smith A Cyclopedia of Commerce and Commercial Navigation.  New York: Harper & brothers, 1859. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/AEU0236.0001.001
    • “Conrad Becker Importer and Maker of Harness, Saddlery, Trunks and Satchels” –This catalog lists trunks including ladies dress trunks, toy trunks, veneer trunks, packing trunks, steamers, sole leather and Saratoga, with prices ranging from $.75 to $62.00.
    • Price List of H.W. Roundtree &Bro., Wholesale Manufactures of all Kinds of Trunks, Traveling Bags, Satchels &ct. – This catalog included descriptions and a chart of trunk sizes, options and prices.
  • Federal and State Censuses list trunk makers with harness makers, trunk manufacturers are sometimes listed separately. The Census may give number of makers, number of establishments, number of employees, production value, production rates and county distribution. Each state has a different format. These are the sites for the Federal and New York Censuses:

Trunk production

  •    New York (State). Secretary’s Office. Hough, Franklin Benjamin. Census of the State of New York, for 1865. Albany: Printed by C. Van Benthuysen, 1867. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/AFP3830.0001.001
  • The State Register: Comprising Historical and Statistical Account of Louisiana. Baton Rouge: T. B. R. Hatch, 1855. – State and local accounts like this may list local trunk makers or manufactures. This lists 38 trunk makers registered in Louisiana (p 133.)
  • Tucker, George. Progress of the United States in Population and Wealth in Fifty Years. New York: Press of Hunt’s Merchants Magazine, 1856.
TravelingRemember if you were traveling by stage, train, ship or at time carriage, your trunk would contain items you would not have easy access to. The items you would need during your transportation or during a night over would be carried in a bag or smaller luggage of some sort. Trunks were packed well and not easily unpacked on a whim.

  • Carter, St. Leger Landon. “Modern Traveling” Southern Literary Messenger. November, 1836. pp 733-735.
  • Porter, Horace. Railway Passenger Travel, 1825-1880. Scotia, NY: American Review, 1888. – I suggest caution in reading this post-war publication, which gives an idea of how some viewed rail-way travel.
  • Redfield, Issac. The Law of the Railways: Embracing Corporations, Eminent Domain, Contracts, Common Carriers of Goods and Passangers. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. 1867.
  •  Swayze, J. C.. Hill & Swayze’s Confederate States Rail-Road and Steam-Boat Guide.  Hill & Swayze, 1862. – Available at Documenting the American South. Contains advise for transporting and checking baggage, including trunks.
  • Beecher, Catharine. A Treatise on Domestic Economy. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1850
  • Beecher, Catharine.  Miss Beecher’s Housekeeper and Healthkeeper. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1874.
  • Beecher, Henry Ward. Motherly Talks with Young Housekeepers.  NY: J.B. Ford, 1873.  Beecher describes how to care for trunks.
  • Beeton, Isabella. The Book of Household Management. 1861. Beeton describes how to pack a trunk.
  • Hart, A. The House Book
  • Leslie, Eliza. The Behaviour Book. Philadelphia: Willis P. Hazard, 1853.
  • Leslie, Eliza. Directions for Cookery or a Manual of Domestic Economy. Philadelphia: E.L. Carey and Hart, 1840.
  • “The Linen Closet” Godey’s Lady’s Book. Philadelphia. July 1855. This article describes how to store lines including storing them in a trunk.
  • Brettuns Village Trunks. http://www.brettunsvillage.com. This site contains an ongoing list of trunk makers that is very useful in locating where a labeled trunk may have been from.
  • Ettinger, Roseanne. Trunks, Traveling Bags, and Satchels. Atglen, PA: Schiffer. 1998. This contains late 1800’s trunk advertisements.
  • Gulshan, Helenka. Vintage Luggage. Willson. 2003. This book contains some beautiful trunk and non-trunk options as well as some useful history.
  • Labuda, Martin and Maryann Labuda. Price and Identification guide to Antique Trunks and How to Repair, Decorate, Restore Antique Trunks. Cleveland: 1968. These short booklets contain some nice black and white photographs with brief, general descriptions.
  • Morse, Pat and Linda Edelstein. Antique Trunks: Identification and Price Guide. Iola, Wisconson: Krause Publications. 2003. This book contains color photographs arranged chronologically as the authors see the trunks.
  • Treasured Chests. http://www.oldtrunks.com. Nicely organized website with trunks arranged by type.

 

House-keeping, including packing

  • Beecher, Catharine. A Treatise on Domestic Economy. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1850
  • Beecher, Catharine.  Miss Beecher’s Housekeeper and Healthkeeper. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1874.
  • Beecher, Henry Ward. Motherly Talks with Young Housekeepers.  NY: J.B. Ford, 1873.  Beecher describes how to care for trunks.
  • Beeton, Isabella. The Book of Household Management. 1861. Beeton describes how to pack a trunk.
  • Hart, A. The House Book
  • Leslie, Eliza. The Behaviour Book. Philadelphia: Willis P. Hazard, 1853.
  • Leslie, Eliza. Directions for Cookery or a Manual of Domestic Economy. Philadelphia: E.L. Carey and Hart, 1840.
  • “The Linen Closet” Godey’s Lady’s Book. Philadelphia. July 1855. This article describes how to store lines including storing them in a trunk. 

 

General Secondary Sources

  • Brettuns Village Trunks. http://www.brettunsvillage.com. This site contains an ongoing list of trunk makers that is very useful in locating where a labeled trunk may have been from.
  • Ettinger, Roseanne. Trunks, Traveling Bags, and Satchels. Atglen, PA: Schiffer. 1998. This contains late 1800’s trunk advertisements.
  • Gulshan, Helenka. Vintage Luggage. Willson. 2003. This book contains some beautiful trunk and non-trunk options as well as some useful history.
  • Labuda, Martin and Maryann Labuda. Price and Identification guide to Antique Trunks and How to Repair, Decorate, Restore Antique Trunks. Cleveland: 1968. These short booklets contain some nice black and white photographs with brief, general descriptions.
  • Morse, Pat and Linda Edelstein. Antique Trunks: Identification and Price Guide. Iola, Wisconson: Krause Publications. 2003. This book contains color photographs arranged chronologically as the authors see the trunks.
  • Treasured Chests. http://www.oldtrunks.com. Nicely organized website with trunks arranged by type. 

 

 

 

Published in: on June 30, 2014 at 2:16 pm  Comments (8)  

Information on Trunks

Last week someone on FB was asking about trunks. Here is the article I wrote in 2008 called “Carrying Your Impression” (I need to get the images fixed). I’m going to pull out some additional information and images as well. It all depends on what I have buried where.

Carrying Your Impression

The question “what do you carry your stuff in?” is one that comes up regularly with new and experienced reenacters. We need small containers to store things like hairpins, jewelry, hairnets, sewing supplies, medicine, a first aide kit, etc. In the nineteenth century there were a wide variety of boxes made from wood, tin, pasteboard, bark, papier-mâché, straw, etc.. They included Deed and Document boxes (wood, tin, paper covered), Small traveling boxes/trunks, Bark boxes, Sewing boxes, Pasteboard boxes, Chip boxes, Cash/money boxes, Dressing boxes, Snuff boxes, Patch boxes, Band & Hat boxes, Pantry and spice boxes, Artists’ boxes, Salt boxes, Candle and tinder boxes, Liquor boxes, Teas boxes/caddies, Boxes for games, and many more. We also need larger containers to transport our gear and smaller containers in and out of an event or throughout the weekend.The following containers are organized by type regardless of size. I have included notes on the advantages and disadvantages of each type of container along with some reading suggestions to learn more about each. One book I highly suggest is Neat and Tidy: Boxes and Their Contents Used in Early American Household by Nina Fletcher Little.

Considering Your Scenario

            You will want to consider the situation of your event scenario when choosing what to carry your gear in. If at all possible, look to documentation of someone from the period in a similar situation to help you determine what to use. Long term refugees may have full furniture transported in wagons including chests of drawers, blanket chests, beds, tables, etc.. Comparatively, a refugee who left in haste may have only what could be carried quickly. This could range from a traveling bag to a stuffed sheet or pillow-case. A person traveling may have a few pieces of baggage depending on the situation and duration. (See Virginia Mescher’s article “Traveling Tips for Ladies”) Someone out for the day would carry far less than those above. A woman in town visiting may only have a purse or the contents in her pocket (See “Dress Pockets: A Lady’s ‘Carry All’” by Glenna Jo Christen in the February 2007 Citizen’s Companion) A woman going marketing or shopping may have a basket (not to be mistaken for the modern-day catch-all purse) in which to carry her purchases.

Environment and Usage

When considering containers for an event, each one has its advantages and draw backs. You will want to consider factors such as the weather prediction including humidity and rain, moisture in what you are storing, weight, lid tightness, wear and tear, and organization within the container.  If the forecast calls for a weekend of heavy rain, you may want to consider a water resistant container to carry your extra clothes if you don’t have a nice dry location to store it.  If you are carrying fragile items such as dishes, glasses, or original books, a soft-sided container may not suit your needs.

Personal Needs

Over the past years, I have used many methods of carrying my gear to events and during events, some successful, some not. Since each method has advantages and disadvantages, I tend to go in phases of what I take. Personally, I need the area I am staying in to be very organized and I need to be able to transport everything up and down stairs and in and out of storage without being overwhelmed. For some, storage containers need to do double duty as furniture or decoration at home. For others, storage containers can stay nicely in a garage or trailer while at home.  

Options for Carrying Your Goods

Trunks  carrying 1

Trunks would have been purchased from a harness maker during the first half of the nineteenth century. They were a common item for transporting and storing household items. Trunks from the mid-century were generally smaller than the later steamer trunks used on trans-Atlantic journeys. Some trunks had inset trays for convenient packing. Dome and curve top trunks often had organized storage in the lids. These trunks were good for moving items in wagons but not good for on trains where they were difficult to stack. Stage coach trunks were small enough to lift, while full, up on top of a stage coach.

Trunks vary in size and shape. Original pre-war trunks should be reproduced for use as most originals are delicate and valuable. Trunks are good for transporting most materials and give some protection against moisture. Large or heavy trunks can be difficult to transport. Stage coach trunks such as the Jenny Lind trunk have ample space inside while being easy to carry by one person. My Jenny Lind trunk is 27.5” wide by 16” deep by 13” high. With the curved sides and lid, I can easily wrap my arms around the body of the trunk to carry it.  For addition information on trunks please see “A Study of Trunks” in the December 2006 Citizen’s Companion. For clothing storage see  “Hanging it Up or Not: Clothing Storage in the Nineteenth Century” by Virginia Mescher available on http://www.raggedsoldier.com.

Wooden Boxes

            A basic wooden box can be made in a variety of ways to store many things. In the era these were homemade or purchased. Some had latches and/or locks. Most lids were flat or domed and hinged while some can have sliding lids. The exterior can be carved, stained, painted, gilt, or inlayed. Early nineteenth century boxes could reflect a patriotic theme with stars, flags, eagles and the like, either freehand painted or stenciled.  Mid century painting tended towards sponging or swirling, faux graining or marbleizing, stylized foliage, life scenes, and stenciling similar to that done on interior walls, floors, and fireboards.  Some late 1700s boxes resembled miniature dower chests. The interiors could be compartmented.  Some of wooden boxes can be document or deed boxes used to store important papers.  Some boxes were covered with leather or hideresembling small trunks. Some hide used to cover trunks retained the animal’s hair or fur. These often had latches and locks as well as strapping and decorative nails. A packing or shipping box can be very simple, possibly stenciled with contents or destination.

A wooden box can protect contents from rainy weather. Depending on construction and tightness of the lid, it may or may not protect from the humidity. Weight and ease of transportation can also be a factor. The type of wood, the size of the box, the shape of the box, and what is packed inside all contribute to the weight and how difficult it will be to carry.  Attention needs to be given to construction techniques and the hardware used. Detailed information can be found in Nineteenth Century Wooden Boxes by Arene Wiemers Burgess.

Bags

There are a number of bags available for use. Some can be purchased while others need to be made by hand.

Directions for travel bags  are available through-out the pages of Godey’s and Peterson’s. A travel bag was intended for carrying what you would need during a journey. In the case of stage or train travel, this may include a shawl, reading material, and extra set of underpinnings, and needlework. The idea was not to have to access your larger baggage during the trip.

Similar to the travel bags, carpet bags were used during travel. These were both manufactured and homemade as they are in reenacting today. The Carpetbagger and Heirloom Weavers both make authentic reproductions with reproduction carpeting. Tapestry and some carpeting is available to make a homemade bag following period illustrations or mimicking an extant bag.  Depending on the size of your bag, you can pack a day’s or a weekend’s goods and clothing. Valises are similar in size and shape to many manufactured carpet bags, but they are made from leather.

            Each of  these bags are easy to carry. They work nicely for soft goods such as clothing. The soft nature of the bags does crush some items inside. The carpet-bag has more firmness to the body of the bag than the travel bag shown. This makes it a little better for items such as books.  Since these bags are fabric or carpet, they do not withstand heavy rain or heavy humidity while carried or set on wet ground. Some carpet bags have leather bases, protecting the contents a bit more from a damp ground. But, I do not suggest leaving it set on a very wet surface for a prolonged period.

 

Cloth Sacks and Pillow Cases

Simple sacks or even pillowcases can be an easy way to carry soft goods. These are especially appropriate for a poorer impression. Cornelia Peake McDonald’s step-daughter, Mary, packed her last minute items in a sheet from the crib before departing Winchester with her children on a stage coach while wearing her calico morning dress. (A War Diary with Reminiscences p182) Bevin Lynn shared on the Sewing Academy how she asked a group of new teen reenacters to store all their materials in a single, monogrammed pillow case for their first events. This helped during carpooling and while sharing a camp location at events.

Bandboxes and Pasteboard boxescarrying 2

Band boxes were made of thin wood then covered with wall paper. Pasteboard boxes were made of paper-pulp pressed into thick sheets. These were also covered with paper. Some papers were wallpaper while others were printed specially for pasteboard boxes. These could be printed with information or illustrations regarding the bonnet, hat, or hair-comb inside. Either of these boxes can be used to hold headwear as well as other items. Pasteboard boxes were made in nesting sets intended to carry or store a wide range of lighter weight articles of clothing such as dresses, caps, gloves, and collars. Oval ones were sometimes considered bride’s boxes given as gifts to store finery and delicate trinkets. Band-boxes and pasteboard boxes of the mid- nineteenth century did not have the convenient cording used to secure the lid that we are familiar with in the 20th century. Instead they were secured with a strap of clasp. Cotton bags were made to carry one or more of the pasteboard boxes. Pasteboard boxes can be round, oval, or rectangular of many different sizes. You can make one with a base box, period wallpaper and interior paper.

Bonnets could also be stored or transported in wooden boxes or bonnet trunks that were becoming more popular in the middle of the century.carrying 3

Sometimes we need very small boxes to carry medication, a key, a dollop of sun-block, etc.. There were small wooden stave boxes made for medicines held in the pantry. This may not be the best choice for modern medications. Consider boxes similar to snuff boxes or patch boxes for this use. These boxes sealed well and were made from fine or utilitarian metal, enameled metal, tortoise shell, ivory, horn, and papier-mâché. (be careful not to put moist contents in the latter part of the list.)

Staved Boxes 

            A pantry favorite, the staved box, can be very useful for an event kitchen. Staved boxes were used for many kitchen goods including cheese, butter, herbs, and flours. One New Hampshire example held hand-woven, hand-dyed linen handkerchiefs and towels (from Neat and Tidy). Those with pine staves/walls held together with hoops of a harder wood were used for moist items like butter. (This may not be practical for events because this box would need to be kept consistently moist. Consider a crock for butter instead.) Stave boxes were also made in sets that could nest. Round sets consisting of one large round box and seven or eight small round boxes set inside the large one were used beginning in the 1850s to store spices. Most often these were labeled: cloves, cinnamon, mustard, nutmeg, pepper, ginger, allspice, mace.

Round and oval Shaker spice and work boxes are the most recognized stave boxes. These were made with maple sides and pine tops and bottoms. These were available in most areas by 1825 either varnished or painted. (be aware, most cheese boxes available from Mennonite shops have staples instead of nails holding the staves. Early handmade stave boxes had headed nails clinched on the inside. Manufactured boxes starting in the mid-century had machine made tacks holding thinner, often poorer made staves.)

Tin boxes and Tin trunkscarrying 6

Tinsmiths made numerous tin containers for use in the mid-nineteenth century including canisters, tin boxes, tin trunks and small tins. Some have hinged lids with latches and handles such as the tin trunk which some used to hold documents. These can be nicely painted solid or painted with designs including stencils.

  carrying 4          Tin containers are excellent for storing items you do not want to get moist or invaded by insects. A container with a tightly secure lid can also hold up against the most curious of chipmunks, squirrels or raccoons. For this reason, I like to use tin to store baked goods. I don’t recommend any food with moisture, because some modern ‘tin’ does seem to spot rust from the inside out. For additional information on tin, consider The Art of the Tinsmith   by Shirley Spaulding DeVoe.

Basketscarrying 5

            Baskets were used for a variety of purposes in the mid-century. There were egg baskets, cheese baskets, market baskets, field baskets, laundry baskets, storage baskets, fruit drying baskets, garden baskets, and many more.  Baskets can be light weight and easy to carry with a built in handle or handles.

Baskets tended to be made for particular uses in mind. Their construction generally reflects this and should be kept in mind when choosing a basket. To strengthen the base of a basket for carrying heavy goods a basket may have a solid turned wood base or a “kicked-in” base. A buttocks basket with the handle encircling the bottom distributed the weight of the contents in the two bulbs of the basket making the basket easier to carry. A field or fruit basket could have an open weave on the bottom allowing dirt and particles to fall through and also allow the contents to dry. A basket meant for drying or for storing the contents could be footed or have runners, keeping the basket up off the floor allowing air to circulate under the basket. Regional variation and cultural origins should also be kept in mind when choosing a basket. While I, in close proximity to Shaker establishments, could choose a Shaker style basket, I could not as easily choose a coil basket made in a Pennsylvania village with German roots or a Nantucket lightship basket.

Baskets are relatively easy to find at craft stores, yard sales, even department stores. You may even be able to take a basket making class at a local history museum or through a continuing education program. For detailed information on baskets, please read Virginia Mescher’s articles in the in the Fall 2005 and Winter 2006 editions of the Watchdog and the books by Gloria Roth Teleki, The Baskets of Rural America and Collecting Traditional American Basketry which include several mid-century notations and baskets.

Baskets do come with a few drawbacks. Baskets provide minimal protection from weather and moisture. If the basket contains modern items, a cloth cover must be continually arranged to conceal the contents. Baskets, though popular for picnics, provide little barrier for hungry insects. I will never forget one of my early events when I had been sitting with a basket on my lap which recently had been on the ground. When the basket was set aside, my entire lap wasn’t the stripes of fabric but a mass of moving black and brown… ants, hundreds of ants. 

           

 Specialized Containers

            At times you will find you need a specialized container to suit your needs. A common one is a spectacle (glasses) case. These cases were shaped for the spectacles, made from metal, covered metal, leather, and papier-mâché. They were most often lined inside. They are the best way to carry your period glasses. If you will be writing letters or a journal during your event you may want a writing desk. Writing desks are useful for writing letters or journal pages. They are wood with a slanted top or fold down top with a writing surface. Inside there are compartments for holding paper, pens and ink. Some men may who plan to shave at events may want a razor box.  These wood boxes had swivel or slide tops. Some had compartments inside for razors and brushes. Another box, useful to most reenactors, especially during rainy events are candle and tinder boxes.  At an event you will want to keep your candles dry and if it is hot, straight. These boxes were wood or tin, the length of the candle. You will also want to keep tinder for the fire if it particularly wet. A period tinderbox would contain a piece of flint, a steel striker, dry tinder, and possibly a tin damper to shield or extinguish the tinder. You will want either those items or dry matches, a striker, dry tinder (charred linen, paper, or wood shavings) or a fire starter and possibly a dry candle stub.

Well-stocked sewing baskets or boxes are essential for anyone who plans to sew during an event. Directions for both smaller sewing kits and larger sewing boxes and baskets can be found in Godey’s and Peterson’s. Chances are, even if you are not an avid seamstress, you have or eventually will need at least a small sewing case during an event. Small kits such as housewives, needle-books and needle-cases abound for purchase. They are also easy to make.

Boxes shaped like books are sometimes popularized for smuggling at events. These book-shaped boxes weren’t an unusual item. They were constructed most often from wood to store important books or other items. They would open like a book or with a sliding cover in the back. Some had humorous titles. The author of Neat and Tidy says hollowed out books were popular in the early 20th century.

Toilet or dressing boxes and trinket boxes were popular for both men and women in the 17th and early 18th centuries among the wealthy classes. By the late 18th and 19th century, these boxes were popular for middle classes. Trinket boxes were similar to what we would now call a small jewelry box. (A trinket was a small ornament, usually an article of jewelry for personal adornment.) 19th century boxes were decorated or painted frequently by the woman who used it. They were most often rectangular or octagonal, occasionally with locks. Some were decorated to match dressing tables.

 

Each one of us will find different modes of packing our goods works well at different times under different circumstances. In my experiences I have found some favorite modes of packing ranging from carpetbags to a wide assortment of trunks to a jam cabinet. I have seen a several successful methods as well. One, which stands out in memory, is an entire kitchen’s goods including flour, sugar, eggs, etc. packed into a copper double boiler. Each item was well packed in a period appropriate container within the boiler making it easy for the cook to carry her weekend’s ingredients from kitchen to kitchen. I am certain I have neglected some favorite containers of other reenacters. If I have, I am eager to hear what you use.

 

Citations:

Raycraft, Don and Carol. Country Baskets Wallace-Homestead, 1976. and The Basket Book. Paducah, KY: Schroeder, 1981.

Schiffer, Nancy. Baskets. Schiffer Publishing: Exton, PA, 1984.

 

 

 

Published in: on June 30, 2014 at 1:58 pm  Leave a Comment  

Readings for Rural Life

From Moore’s Rural New-Yorker in Rochester, NY

June 25th, 1864

What is Becoming.

The effects of color on complexion are learned from experience, and the subject cannot be treated successfully in a short paper like present. Portrait artists know how many are the colors that mingle in one face, and slightly varying porportions[sic]and small omissions produce difference in the skin, so that colors which suit one person are not becoming to another, although the complexions of the two are supposed to be the same. A candid friend, or the more candid looking-glass, must be the ultimate appeal. Now that we have touched the delicate subject of the mirror, let us notice the fact of how much the position of a glass, in reference to the light, has to do in making a person satisfied or discontented with his, or her, appearance. The most flattering position for the glass is when placed between two windows, the equal cross-light reducing inequalities and roughnesses to a minimum. The most unbecoming reflection is from a glass in front of a window, the only one in a room. It is remarkable, and perhaps unexplained, that any irregularity of the features, anything out of drawing in the face, is increased when seen in a glass. There is a great difference in the color of the glass itself; some glasses are very pure and white; some have a greenish tinge, necessarily producing disheartening reflections.

 

Published in: on June 25, 2014 at 6:06 am  Leave a Comment  
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