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Course Description

Summary

Historical Dress: The Park-McCullough Project Spring ‘26

Working onsite at the local Park-McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion, students will collaborate in the design of a new exhibition centered around the museum’s “stitchery” or sewing room. Utilizing the historic dress and artifact collection, students will research the history of the sewing room, design the space as it might have appeared once upon a time, and curate the exhibit to be ready for public viewings. Grounded in a wealth of Victorian and American Gothic history, the mansion hosts an extensive collection of artifacts from the McCullough family and is a great example of a “house” museum.

Before mass-produced clothing, sewing rooms, that  is “the stitchery”,  were vital for families.  Where working women sewed new clothes, repaired garments, and created quilts - often for “gentlewomen” they worked for.  A historic house museum such as the Park-McCoullough Mansion aims to provide visitors with a sense of what life was like in the past through the preservation of the house's architecture, furnishings, and artifacts. Having the opportunity to research and envision a sewing room or Stitchery for the house is an incredible opportunity. It's not only an opportunity to ground the students' research work in primary sources, but a space to learn about preservation, follow concepts through to reality, and a unique experience to be part of creating an evocative space to engage the curiosity and imagination of its visitors. 

All classes will take place off campus at the Park-McCullough Mansion which is a 20-30 min walk from campus or drivable with parking.