{"id":563,"date":"2022-08-16T18:28:31","date_gmt":"2022-08-16T18:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wbbm.digitalprojects.brynmawr.edu\/dev\/?page_id=563"},"modified":"2022-09-15T16:09:47","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T20:09:47","slug":"caretakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wbbm.digitalprojects.brynmawr.edu\/why-build\/exhibit\/home\/caretakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Caring for Caretakers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Amidst her suggestions for the new College,\u00a0Bessie\u00a0King\u00a0reveals her expectation for a privileged standard\u00a0of student living, one that would rely on female service staff.\u00a0From its opening, the College aimed\u00a0to relieve\u00a0all\u00a0students from performing\u00a0any form of domestic\u00a0work,\u00a0assuring\u00a0not only\u00a0their\u00a0academic focus,\u00a0but\u00a0also\u00a0their class standing.\u00a0\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1885, the Executive Board Committee discussed whether students would make their own beds, revealing a concern for the extent to which Bryn Mawr\u00a0students should be involved in domestic tasks. The Trustees recognized the cost of such privileges would increase residential fees and risk the exclusion of less affluent students, but they also felt bound by Taylor\u2019s will, which stipulated the construction of a college environment that would be worthy of the \u201cmore refined classes of society.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt is difficult to overrate the importance of having meals\u00a0well served. I doubt if food is\u00a0eaten in sufficient quantities\u00a0or properly digested when table linen is not neat, waiters\u00a0few\u00a0and badly trained, and food put on the table in an\u00a0unattractive manner.\u201d\u202f\u202f\u200b<\/p>Bessie King,\u00a0Suggestions for the Organization of the\u00a0Proposed Female College at Bryn\u00a0Mawr,\u00a0<\/em>1879.\u00a0\u202f\u200b<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe question of expecting resident students at Bryn\u00a0Mawr\u00a0to make\u00a0their own beds was referred to, but no decision reached, it being left to\u00a0the discretions of the President [James Rhoads]. The object of such a\u00a0requirement is a reduction of the expense so as not to exclude students\u00a0of moderate means.\u201d<\/p>Bryn\u00a0Mawr\u00a0College Executive Board Committee Meeting Minutes, April\u00a04, 1885,\u00a0Bryn\u00a0Mawr\u00a0College, Special Collections.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\"A
Sally Brown in room of Sophie Kirk, Mistress\u00a0of Merion\u200b, c.1895\u200b, Photograph; Bryn Mawr College Special Collections,\u00a0\u200bPAE_Maids_017_01\u200b<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Sally Brown<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"An
Maid Outside (name unknown) \u200b
Still image, photograph \u200b
1900 \u200b
Bryn Mawr College Special Collections PAE_Maids_004_01 \u200b
\u200b<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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These utensils, engraved with \u201cMerion Hall\u201d on the handles, were part of the silverware collection used in the student dining room. Silver tarnishes easily and would have required frequent polishing.\u202f\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we imagine the experiences of service staff through <\/em>these objects? <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"A
Fish Server, c 1885\u202f \u200b
Silver\u202f\u202f \u200b
Bryn Mawr College Special Collections 
SC.2001.3.2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Spoon\u200b
Silver\u200b
Bryn Mawr College Special Collections,\u200b
SC.2001.3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"A
Spoon, c. 1885\u200b
Silver\u200b
Bryn Mawr College Special Collections, \u200b
SC.2001.3.15\u200b<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"a
Butter Knife\u200b
Silver\u200b
Bryn Mawr College Special Collections\u200b
SC.2001.3.18\u200b<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Return to: Welcome Home<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Continue to: Classifying College Labor<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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