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Deerfield, Mass. (June 19, 2018)
--- Clashes between European rivals and colonial settlers' determination to control their environment shaped the physical landscape and ideological contours of the North American continent. Throughout these early centuries of conflict, conquest, and settlement, European newcomers and their descendants persistently turned to the taste, material culture, and fashions of the Old World to affirm their cultural
identities even as they forged new patterns of consumption and trade.
Perhaps nowhere is this dynamic history of conflict, accommodation, and adaptation more evident than in the clothing and textiles worn and used in British and French North America during the long eighteenth century. In the absence of large-scale manufacturing, imported English and European fabrics were essential for well-dressed bodies and fashionably-appointed domestic interiors. News of the latest civilian and military clothing styles worn abroad likewise shaped tastes and trends. However, colonists also adopted nuanced, and at times alternative, visions of dressing and furnishing. A combination of all these goods, trends, and ideologies would come to play a role in the American Revolution and subsequently helped define the character of the new nation.
Historic Deerfield's fall symposium,
"Fashion and Conflict in Early America,"
will
provide an in-depth look at the broad meanings of conflict on clothing and textiles that defined culture in 18th-and early 19th-century British and French North America.
The program features an impressive
and engaging group of speakers and workshop
presenters sharing new insights and information on the myriad meanings and perspectives
of conflict. Guest speakers include
John Styles, Research Professor in History, University of Hertfordshire, UK, and Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Victoria and Albert Museum, London;
Jonathan Eacott, Associate Professor, University of California, Riverside;
Neal T. Hurst, Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation;
Ann Buermann Wass, History/ Museum Specialist, Riversdale House Museum, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Baltimore, MD; and
Matthew Keagle, Curator of Collections, Fort Ticonderoga. Several juried speakers will explore topics related to politics, importation of styles and trends, and the military.
The symposium will be held
September 28-30, 2018,
at Historic Deerfield.
The symposium will also offer workshops on Friday afternoon, September 28, allowing participants up-close access to experts
skilled in the historic trades of early 19th century millinery and tailoring.
Registration for the forum is $385 and includes all lectures and demonstrations, admission to Historic Deerfield for the duration of the symposium, two receptions, one lunch, and refreshments. Friends of Historic Deerfield receive a $20 discount on their registration fee.
About Historic Deerfield, Inc.
Historic Deerfield, Inc., is dedicated to the heritage and preservation of Deerfield, Massachusetts, and the Connecticut River Valley. Its museums and programs provide today's audiences with experiences that create an understanding and appreciation of New England's historic villages and countryside. For more information, please call (413) 775-7214 or visit historic-deerfield.org.
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