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Culture from the 18th Century to the Present

Dave Philpott Ms. Amanda Lloyd ECPI University 22 February 2014
I pledge to support the Honor System of ECPI. I will refrain from any form of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a member of the academic community, it is my responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the honor code. I understand that any failure on my part to support the Honor System will be turned over to a Judicial Review Board for determination. I will report to the Judicial Review Board hearing if summoned.

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As a country grows and evolves, preserving the history of the land and its people provides a link to the past. In modern times we have many methods of recording events. Prior to the age of film and recording media, history was recorded in the arts, literature, and news reports of the period. When an event had significance it was documented by writers and artists for posterity. Other events, such as the daily activities of the people, were not considered as important, and were therefore not as well documented. Surviving diaries, journals, clothing, law records, art, and structures provide valuable clues to the past. The United States of America is a young country in relation to the countries of the world. Where some cultures date back thousands of years, America traces back only hundreds. American history provides a unique opportunity to view the social and political alchemy that forms a world power, detailing a model where colonization leads to independence and eventual prominence in the global arena. The early inhabitants of the established settlements in America left behind a rich trove of evidence from which to extract the culture of a young nation. Colonial Williamsburg is a living museum displaying the results of years of research and discovery of Americas history. Located near the Colonial Williamsburg district is the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, showcasing a collection of artwork and artifacts that tell the stories of early Virginians and therefore early Americans. The cultural significance of institutions such as these cannot be understated; without historical record, the lives and hard work of Americas architects would be lost in the past.

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Methods To explore the cultural events of Colonial Williamsburg and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum (AARFAM), I spent two days in the Colonial Williamsburg district. The first day I took my family to the reconstructed township of Colonial Williamsburg. We toured the streets and buildings, engaging with the actors who represent the residents of 18th Century Virginia. I spoke with them about their lifestyles and the current events of the characters these actors played. The next day I visited the AARFAM. Instead of taking the guided tour, I chose to view the collection at a slower pace, taking the time to read about the pieces on exhibit. For further exploration I purchased two books, the Official Guide to Colonial Williamsburg and A Brief History of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum. I also went online to research other cultural events similar to these for comparisons in this report. Results Colonial Williamsburg: A Cultural Reflection 18th Century Virginia was a time of great change. Britain still ruled the American colonies, but the strong opinions of Virginias political leaders favored independence from the British monarchy. The elders in the community urged moderation and wished to remain loyal to the crown, while the younger Virginians wanted to sever all ties to imperial control. Religious beliefs and affiliations also underwent change. While many Virginians worshipped as Anglicans, other religious groups such as Quakers, Presbyterians, and Baptists came to prominence in the 18th Century. Regardless of affiliation, members of the community were forced to pay taxes to and register with the Church of England.

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The 1700s marked a beginning in consumerism. In earlier times, people were judged by land and livestock. 18th Century Virginians gained unprecedented access to goods and services, sharing merchandise such as clothing, textiles, and home furnishings in trade routes with England. Shifting the focus to interior possessions led to a new interest in indoor entertainment. Protocols for etiquette concerning social gatherings gave rise to new standards in manners and acceptable behavior (Olmert, 2002, p. 84). Land in the New World seemed never-ending. Acquisition of large plots of land was often easy and inexpensive, provided the owner was willing to clear the acreage and develop the property. New social standings arose, creating strong divides between citizens who owned land and possessions and those who did not. Larger lands created a need for large, inexpensive work forces, keeping the slave trade alive and flourishing (Olmert, 2002, p. 98). The increase of African slaves introduced many new cultural themes to Virginians. Although conditions were harsh for many slaves, they shared their stories, religious beliefs, food, and other ways of life with the free citizens in the New World. Several slaves integrated into the societal standards of the 18th Century, becoming educated and eventually gaining individual freedom. Colonial Williamsburg: History In 1780 Virginias Capitol moved from Williamsburg to Richmond. Williamsburg remained a thriving town, home to merchants, homeowners, and institutions such as William and Mary College. Over the next hundred years, structures were torn down, rebuilt, or built new. By 1920, Williamsburg was a shadow of the town it had once been. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, rector of the Bruton Parish Church, sought to restore the historically relevant Williamsburg to the glory of its 18th Century standards. Goodwin reached out to many potential

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investors, realizing the undertaking would require years of work and large amounts of money (Olmert, 2002, p. 22). In 1926, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. agreed to fund the reconstruction of Williamsburg under the condition that the whole town be restored. Together, Goodwin and Rockefeller envisioned the area as a living museum where 18th Century life would be replicated down to the dress and actions of the participants. Rockefeller continued his commitment to the restoration for the next 30 years, and an endowment he established continues to provide funding for ongoing work (Olmert, 2002, pp. 22-23). Colonial Williamsburg: Evolution of the Living Museum From its inception, the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg has attempted to recreate life as it was in the 18th Century. Maintaining a snapshot of a specific time period means the area strives to preserve a certain aesthetic; changes in the museum are therefore counterintuitive to its purpose. Changes have been made to how Colonial Williamsburg is experienced, however. The museums Visitor Center is a modernized building, equipped with computers and a movie theater. Visitors take a bus to the recreated town center. Colonial Williamsburg: A Similar Event The Sydney Living Museums in Australia consist of 12 houses, gardens, and museums devoted to preserving the cultural history of Australia. Formally established in 1980, the Museums were the result of government actions to preserve the heritage of the Australian people, brought about by growing public sentiment (2014). Sydneys living museums are similar to Colonial Williamsburg in the presentation of history through reproduction of buildings and the reenactments by period actors. Both events

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attempt to place visitors in the historical context of the era, allowing the visitors to interact with the museum as opposed to passively observing it. The Sydney museums take up a larger land area than Colonial Williamsburg. Sydneys museums focus on several eras of Australian history, unlike the specific focus of Colonial Williamsburg on the 18th Century (2014). Colonial Williamsburg: Influence from Other Cultures The restoration of Colonial Williamsburg recreates culture during the 1700s. As such, the event itself has no influence from other cultures; being a fixed period in time, the museum portrays events as accurately as can be determined from available historical evidence. The events being portrayed had several cultural influences, however. 18th Century Virginia represented a rich mixture of many languages, clothing styles, food preparation, art, architecture, and social interaction. Northern European influence, as well as culture from Native Americans and Africans provided the foundation for early American culture. Colonial Williamsburg: Influence on Other Cultures Colonial Williamsburg is a popular cultural attraction to visitors of Virginia and America. The influence it has on other cultures would be difficult to gauge; I could not find any specific examples in my research. I would hope visitors from other countries would be inspired by the dedication to preserving the history of 18th Century America.

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Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum: A Cultural Reflection Folk art represents culture through the eyes of craftspeople with no formal education in fine arts. From the 18th Century to present day, Americans have captured aspects of their culture through artistic pursuits, such as paintings, sculpture, pottery, weaving, wood carving, glassware, and furniture making. Over the years, changes in lifestyle cause changes in the artistic zeitgeist, providing markers for future generations. Art historians catalogue the idiosyncrasies of time periods, documenting the trends peculiar to specific spans of history. Distinctions in art and craftsmanship help define eras. Furniture construction, for example, reflects changes in the styles and size of residences, as well as attitudes in entertaining visitors. Pottery designs show influence from other countries such as Germany and Japan, incorporating techniques inherent to the time periods in which they were popular. Musical instruments, particularly the piano and harpsichord, also provide evidence of cultural significance. On display one can see the evolution of instrument design; smaller homes necessitated smaller pianos, favoring a rectangular design for placing in smaller rooms. Harpsichords phase out over the timeline as their popularity declines in the 19th Century. Cultural trends appear in the paintings, showing another artistic evolution. Artistic movements such as Realism, Expressionism, Cubism, Abstract, and Modernism are documented in over 200 years of collected art work. Original paintings of important historical figures, such as George Washington, are also displayed. Religious beliefs show in many of the displays. Many of the paintings, sculptures, and pottery characterize the strong Christian faith upon which America was built.

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Attitudes toward race relations can be seen in the artwork as well. Depictions of African Americans as recent as early 20th Century would be considered objectionable and racist by todays standards. AARFAM: History The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum is the first folk art museum in America. It was established as a formal collection of art in 1957, but the artwork within had been on display in various collections as early as 1931 (Luck and Weekley, 2007, p. 3). Abby Rockefeller was a founding member of the New York Citys Museum of Modern Art, and it was there she first began to collect pieces of American folk art. Through several advisors, consisting of prominent collectors, historians, and curators, Rockefeller built a substantial collection. She began exhibiting pieces of the collection, generating favorable reviews and building interest in the art that provided a link to Americas past. When John D. Rockefeller, Jr. became a benefactor for the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg, Abby Rockefeller became enamored of the Ludwell Paradise House. She saw the potential for housing her growing folk art collection there, to the delight of the buildings administrators. Rockefeller gifted her collection to the facility, and in May of 1935 the collection went on display (Luck and Weekley, 2007, p. 12). Abby Rockefeller died in 1948. John Rockefeller, Jr. commissioned a new building for the burgeoning art collection, and in March of 1957 the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum opened its doors to the public (Olmert, 2002, p. 139). Over the next 30 years the art collection grew to the point where an addition was needed on the building. By 2004, the entire collection was moved to a new building in Colonial Williamsburg, near the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, where it presently stands (Luck and Weekley, 2007, pp. 14-15).

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In Abby Rockefellers lifetime, art critics, historians, curators, and the general public developed an appreciation for American folk art. The movement was perhaps spurred by the recognition of the creativity of the untrained artists; many of the contemporary artists of the day drew parallels to the works of Modern artists. The idea of placing such a historically significant art collection in the newly renovated Colonial Williamsburg district was an inspired decision on Abby Rockefellers part. She realized the growing interest in 18th Century American history would encourage visitors to the folk art museum, inspiring interest in what began as a fringe movement. AARFAM: Evolution In the first incarnation of the museum, the collection consisted of 424 pieces loaned by Rockefeller and curated by the administration of Colonial Williamsburg. Rockefeller eventually gave these pieces to the museum, adding to the collection from her personal store of folk art. By 1954, she had given nearly all her art to the museum (Luck and Weekley, 2007, p. 8). Over the years, the amount of contributions to the collection required expansions, and eventual moving, of the original facility. The new museum offers a modern display of the art collection in a building designed by Samuel Anderson. The current location addressed a problem the original location experienced; the growth around Colonial Williamsburg caused the previous building to get lost in the expanding construction. The new location spotlights the museum, contributing to higher attendance numbers, exposing the collection to larger numbers of people (Luck and Weekley, 2007, pp 14-15).

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AARFAM: A Similar Event The Museum of International Folk Art (MIFA) houses over 135,000 pieces of art from all over the world. It opened in 1953, and was founded by Florence Bartlett, a Chicago heiress. It is known as the worlds largest folk art museum (2010). The MIFA and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum were both officially opened in the 1950s. Both were started by prominent American women who happened to be folk art enthusiasts and collectors. Where they differ is the scope of the collections. The Rockefeller Folk Art Museum concerns American folk art; the MIFA collects art from cultures worldwide. The MIFA is home to a large Hispanic art collection, and is one of the few museums in America to do so (2010). AARFAM: Influence from Other Cultures American folk art is the result of several years of immigration and cultural integration influencing the arts. As such, all of the art on display, from the paintings and sculpture to the furniture and musical instruments, has some influence from other cultures. American folk art can be said to be a synthesis of several artistic and cultural inputs. The idea of collecting folk art and displaying it is the result of art culture in the late 1920s and early 1930s. At this time, many artists and art critics developed an appreciation for American folk art. These early pieces showed a raw artistic creativity, free from the rules of formalized art, and collectors saw merit in exhibiting this artwork. The culture of art exhibition led to the display of Rockefellers collection, ultimately leading to the creation of the museum.

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AARFAM: Influence on Other Cultures Much like Colonial Williamsburg, the influence of the folk art museum on other cultures is hard to determine. Americana is a uniquely American art form; any display of American folk art is the result of collectors, such as Abby Rockefeller, who saw the potential for public interest. The AARFAM is the first museum dedicated to American folk art. In the time since its institution, other museums devoted to American folk art have been constructed; they all owe some debt to the efforts of Rockefeller and her collaborators who helped popularize Americana. Discussion The preservation of a countrys culture is important for the countrys future generations. America has the benefit of being a young enough country to have the significant periods of its development well documented. In addition, artwork, literature, buildings, and artifacts of everyday living survived to show modern generations how people lived. To me, Colonial Williamsburg provides a vital supplement to the history books and lessons learned in school. By interacting with the people and the buildings, the era comes to life, teaching us about the culture in a way the books cannot communicate. Viewing the way of life in the past allows us to mark our progress in the present. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum allows us to see actual pieces of art, furniture, tools, and common household items from our past. One of the interesting aspects of this museum is how it turns practical items, such as weathervanes, into art; displaying the artifacts as art presents these items illustrates their importance to the people of the era. Cultural events such as museums allow us to introduce new generations to what we know of the past. We are able to add to these institutions, creating repositories of accumulated knowledge where future research further illuminates the historical record.

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Resources (2010). Museum of international folk art. Retrieved 19 February 2014 from www.internationalfolkart.org. (2014). Sydney living museums. Retrieved 17 February 2014 from http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/. Luck, B. and Weekley, C. (2007). A brief history of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum. Williamsburg, VA: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Olmert, M. (2002). Official guide to Colonial Williamsburg (4th ed.). Williamsburg, VA: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.