Building a Late 19th Century Kitchen

Grand Windsor Stove (1895).  This would be our most expensive piece because of its multifunctions and ornate design.  We assume this would have been a stove used by the uppr class.

Waffle Iron (1880's).  this piece would have been more commodity than a necessity because it would also be something used by the upper class.

Patatoe Fryer (Pat'd July 8, 1879). we chose this because it could not only fry patatoes but other foods, thus making a good cooking utensil. 

Dipper (1880's-1890's). We chose this because it is a simple spoon that can be used for multiple dishes.

Stove Set (late 19th century).  Perhaps our most important piece because it contains everything you would need for cooking.  It comes conveniently in a single package. 

Measures.  Would help with accuracy and organize ingredients.

Assessing the Slave Cabin

Citlali Molina

American Economies

Professor Rainville

September 10, 2012

Assessing the Slave Cabin

            When I first visited Sweet Briar College, I was introduced to the slave cabin during a tour.  I had already known that Sweet Briar was a plantation but the history was never fully explained to me.  In a sense, it was a culture shock to see the slave cabin and to discover that this college and its former use were built on people that are virtually unnoticed.  My first instinct was to learn more.  I wanted to feel the history and recognize those people that held Sweet Briar up.  I had a great desire to enter the slave cabin and feel what it would have been like to live there when it was first built.  I thought of the people that lived in it and worked on the land, and I wanted to hold on to that history.

            One thing I find surprising about the slave cabin, is that it is basically the only thing that we know about its time as a plantation.  I would really like to know if any more artifacts remain or exist.  For example, if there used to be a huge village of slave cabins, why haven’t they been excavated before? And if a road used to exist that traveled throughout the landscape, when was it forgotten?  I am sure that under the dirt, near those hidden foundations, we will find a lot more information that will help uncover the mystery of the slave cabin.  It’s a little troublesome that after so much time no one would bother to inquire about the whole property in its plantation days.

            Upon assessing the slave cabin, I believe that the slave cabin should be restored and turned into a sort of tribute to the enslaved and non-enslaved community that helped build the beautiful land we have today.  It would be a museum specifically directed at the history of the people, not the building.  The slave cabin is the lasting remnant on campus that represents a history most would like to forget.  But it should be the opposite, we shouldn’t forget history just because it was bleak; it is still important to how we became who we are today.  The world, including Sweet Briar College, is built on history.  Already more and more information is arising about the working force of the Sweet Briar Plantation and what better place to store this information than in a building that in itself is a piece of history.

                        With the recent recognition of the slave cemetery, I believe the slave cabin would also be a great addition in honoring the people of the Sweet Briar Plantation.  If we are starting to honor their final resting place as a community, then we are more than capable of honoring their moments alive as well.  The point of this tribute museum will be to justly honor and pay the respect that they so rightfully deserve.   

            In order to engage the student body, awareness and respect must be gained for those that worked on the Sweet Briar Plantation.  From experience, the reason no one visits the slave cabin, is because no one knows about it.  We could change that by displaying the true value of what it meant to be a worker during that early century in a plantation. Once we appreciate the value, the slave cabin will become a popular sight.  Also, in order for this tribute to really hit the hearts of those that come to visit, there should be artifacts, if any, of the population that served Sweet Briar Plantation.  It is the only way to confirm that these people were in fact real and that their effort and strength is the reason we stand as a lasting college with a rich history.

American Anthropologist: Igor Kopytoff

Citlali Molina

Professor Rainville

American Economies

September 24, 2012

American Anthropologist: Igor Kopytoff

            Igor Kopytoff was born in 1930 and is currently a professor of anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania.  He received his B.A. in anthropology from Northwestern University as well as a M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.  In 1960, He received his Ph.D. in anthropology from Northwestern University.  His thesis focused on the Suku community in the Congo.  Igor Kopytoff studies cultural anthropology and has done much of his research in Africa. 

            Kopytoff focuses on the value of commodities in different cultures.  In his writings, he makes a point that the biography of an object defines a value, in other words, an object can be valued differently depending on where it has been.  Aside from this, a lot of his research comes from studying slavery in Africa.   He studies cultural phenomenon such as social class, religion and politics.  His research has also lead him to travel to other places in Africa such as Cameroon and the Ivory Coast.

SBC Currency Assignment #3

Citlali Molina

Professor Rainville

American Economies

September, 10, 2012

SBC Currency

            Here at Sweet Briar, Apple products seem to be a huge commodity.  Yes, it is true that not all students have Apple products on campus, but almost every student has some form, whether it be a computer or a small iPod shuffle.  I purpose a barter system at Sweet Briar between Apple products since it seems to be in great use.  Although Apple products are specifically designed, this form of “currency would be made in SBC colors: green, pink and brown.  Any product bearing those colors would be considered valid for trade.

            Ideally, Apple products would still be assigned a value to barter.  Since apps are virtually inexpensive most of the time, that would be the cheapest way to trade; app for an app.  In our society it would be considered anywhere from a cent value to a couple of dollars.  Then the cables, adapters, small iPod shuffles would follow as a substitute to the 5-20 dollar bills.  iPod Touches, iPhones, iPads, and Apple computers are valued higher therefore those would serve the higher bills.  Since all Apple products are valued differently, in this society there would be a rule as to what object you can trade for another.  One way would be to trade an app or an app, or apps for cables and small devices.  Of course to purchase apps, we would need iTunes cards, which can be acquired by trading apps for them as well.  If one wanted a bigger device, you could only trade it for cables or the smaller devices, not apps.  The difference in value of the bigger devices to the small ones is so great that it wouldn’t suffice to trade an app for something like a laptop.  If that were so, the value of a laptop would deface.  Trading with apps and smaller devices would seem more valued in this society because everyone would need to charge their device every so often or find an app that makes their life easier.  Even in our current society, human beings are forever finding that which will facilitate their lives.  In contrast, bigger devices would be traded less because their value is so high, most wouldn’t want to trade them. Also, bigger devices would be more likely owned by an elite group.

             There is a matter of the people who don’t own Apple products.  These people would be given ITunes cards in which they could invest in apps and later bigger product.  In essence they would start on the lowest rung of this economic system.  Eventually, if done correctly these people can participate with the rest of society.  The reason is not a punishment, but in order for an economic society to function their needs to be both the high and low standards of society. 

The reason I gave this form of currency great value is because in our current society, technology is greatly valued.  Every person longs for the latest phone or tablet.  We are an ever consuming community and as long as technology continues to improve, we will only want more.  This being said, Sweet Briar would become a digital school if this form of currency was applied.  As stated before, this form would allow a wealthy class to dominate because those with the bigger devices would have more power to trade for any object of their choice.  There will always be a middle class depending on how well everyone can barter.  Although, I do believe that this kind of society will cause people to be greedier and hold on to their valuable items.  My overall impression of this economic system is that if people are satisfied with their possessions there will be less trade, causing the system to fail.  It is a system that can only be tested and never fully applied to modern times.       

This sculpture outside of Guion reminds me of Toy Story. Every time I pass by it the same scene pops into my head. Specifically the scene where Andy's mom steps on one of the toy soldiers and he gets crushed.Whatever he had in his hand bends, and looks something like this picture.

Gray Hall has been around since 1906. The bells still remain on site and since bells are almost no longer in use, it is amazing that Sweet Briar has kept them as a symbol of its proud history.