|
A potential bride should demonstrate, in this order: moral excellence, common sense, desire for improvement and fondness for children.
Or so was the prevailing sentiment among the upper class in the 19th century.
This lesson was one of several at Saturday's Valentine's Day-inspired program at Duke Homestead and Tobacco History Museum titled "19th Century Courtship and Marriage."
The program, a PowerPoint presentation and speech by Alison Holcomb, an N.C. State University graduate student in public history, ran three times during the day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and lasted about 45 minutes.
It was the first of several special events for the museum's 2007 season, including an April revival at the on-site outdoor church and a craft festival in June.
The presentation, which attracted two large groups in the morning session and handfuls of curious weekenders in the afternoon, wasn't the creation of museum staffers. Rather, the program was inspired by the interest of student volunteers.
"They were interested, and I was tasked with developing it," said Holcomb, who works at the museum part time. "We decided to do it in honor of Valentine's Day."
The students are part of the Junior Interpreter Program, and help the museum with components of the living history project -- costumed demonstrations of how the Dukes lived.
And though Washington Duke and his tobacco-farming family lived more than 150 years ago, some audience members at Saturday's presentations thought that when it came to courtship, not much had changed.
"We saw a lot of similarities," said Sue O'Malley, who attended the program with a group from Longview Baptist Church in Raleigh.
Trina Peddy, who attended the program to show her visiting Chicagoan brother around Durham, said she thought similarities between courtship customs of the 19th century and today were more likely for families with religious backgrounds. "We're very much into the Bible and the church, he said. "But if you don't have that, it makes a difference."
Lance Picha, Peddy's brother, thought the similarities were tied to geography, and that being in the South was a unique experience.
"Everything you read in books and see in movies, it's here," Picha said. "[The South] hasn't changed a lot. It hasn't civilized as much as the rest of the country."
The presentation outlined four facets of 19th century relationships: what men and women look for in a partner, courtship rituals, weddings and marriage.
In Holcomb's opinion, courtship is the part that has changed the most.
"It's harder for people to meet," she said. "People can move. You don't have the networks that you used to have."
And Holcomb said technology provided one of the main catalysts for the evolution in communication.
"Technology obviously has changed a lot," she said. "The time is different. The way time is utilized is different now."
Holcomb's roommate, Erin Janson, a UNC Greensboro graduate student, added that relationships have changed due to postponing life milestones.
"There are people that don't get married 'til 35 and don't start having kids 'til 40," she said.
| 
