| This case study of the Alexander Ramsey House in St. Paul, Minnesota uses furnishings textiles as a vehicle for exploring issues of lifestyle and meaning in an upper middle class Minnesota household during the late Victorian period. Ramsey was one of Minnesota's most prominent politicians during this time period. Hotel living, travel, and the social life associated with public service probably influenced the Ramseys' tastes when it came to the building and furnishing of their St. Paul home in 1872.;Lifestyle (i.e., the family's mode of living) and meaning (i.e., assertions of self, status, and identification with social groups and values) were expressed through and conveyed by the furnishings textiles which were located in the library and reception room. Through a study of the furnishings textiles, conclusions can be reached about the appearance, ambience, and use of the rooms. Furthermore, their study demonstrates that the Ramsey home was a microcosm of the American Victorian era with its themes of tradition/heritage, consumerism/fashion, and the cult of domesticity. That is, the Ramsey family participated in the major trends of the period.;For purposes of this study, "textiles" are defined as upholstery, window and floor coverings, portieres, tablecloths, doilies and antimacassars, pillows, needlework, temporary use fabrics such as furniture covers, and wallpaper (which functions like a textile). The three-step procedure, based on material culture research methods, includes identification and documentation of the furnishings textiles which were purchased for and used in the library and reception room; analysis of the cultural context through examination of trade catalogs, household art publications, and historic photographs of libraries and reception rooms; and interpretation of the data with reference to lifestyle and meaning. The study covers the time period beginning in 1872, when the home was completed, and ending in 1887, when major redecorating efforts were completed. |
