2 Southampton History Museum
Double Meaning Decor
by Abbie Belknap
Houses can usually be viewed as a reflection of the people who live inside. We decorate our houses in our own personal styles, but did you know you can tell a lot more about the family from just the decor? The Southampton History Museum provides a beautiful example of this. In the late 1800’s, decorating your house was less about what you liked and more about how you could express your wealth to others.
In a closet somewhere boxed away is my mom's expensive wedding china. Probably never to be used except on very, very important occasions (I still have never used it). However, in the Rogers Mansion, china like this was used for everyday meals. Using such china for every meal shows a general lack of caution about potential chips or breakages. Knowing that if anything happens to break, it's not a big deal and could easily be replaced indicates an immense amount of wealth. Not just any family can afford to replace such expensive china.
This picture shows an example of china that would have been used by the Rogers family at the time.
Southampton Historical Museum
by James Stegman 
Another interesting piece of information we learned about the house itself, is that it is not all original. This picture shown is of the South Hampton Historical Museum. However, we quickly learned that the large protruding section in the front was actually added to the house later to accommodate the owner's needs. These needs vary from a place for the women to work on sewing or other delicate crafts to a well-lit room. However, this room was also used to house their large collection of genuine fine china to inform their guests that they have traveled far and wide in their lives and should be viewed as “worldly”. This room was also used for entertainment purposes as it was large enough to host a party with room for a piano and even a dancefloor! 
Symbolism in Portraits
by Vandana Menser
This portrait of Captain Albert Rogers is one of the first things one is met with upon entering the Rogers family house at Southampton History Museum. The telescope in hand and ship in the background are not just for aesthetics, but are rather indicative of who he was - a successful whaling captain. Symbolism in portrait paintings isn’t scarce in the slightest, as meaning has been woven into art since the dawn of time. But specific characteristics of a painting can often reveal more than what originally meets the eye when attempting to learn more about the figure it’s detailing. Cornucopias are interpreted as abundance, the sun can show a monarchy’s one great power, and flowers may represent growth and rebirth for whoever may be so blessed to be painted near them. One could choose to interpret the stormy clouds behind Captain Rogers to be demonstrative of how brave and skilled he was at sea, or his solemn expression to be his steadiness in the face of danger. No matter what you choose to gather from this portrait, it undeniably is a class symbol to be oohed and aahed at by guests fortunate enough to visit.
Object Insight
by Ian Robinson
Spread throughout the household were many displays of worldly possessions. An indicator of the world’s development in expansive trade networks and sailing efforts. With this said, our houses tell a story of who we are. From the decorations on our walls to the products we enjoy, a glimpse of our lives can be read by a guest or maybe a historian to one-day stumble upon it. Take some time to think about what your home reveals about yourself. Is it true to your character or is it misleading?
The sign of a sophisticated sailor. The helm of a ship housing to be smoked Cuban cigars. An expensive taste for foreign goods, but a casual way of flaunting it. 
Set aside from the showcases and dining rooms, a window side table displays a game of Dominoes and other foreign goods. To escape from the rest of the household or guests, let's talk over a game. What’s a better way to enjoy your cigar, than to a game of dominoes and a glass of liquor? Glad to know that I’m not the only cultured one who enjoys Chinese classics. Now tell me about your travels, while I show you what a winner looks like. 
A showcase piano at first sight from the entrance of the household rested up against a drawn map of the Americas. Judging by the looks of the map and the piano, the time was around the 18 hundreds. I didn’t know you had an ear for music. Now do you really play the piano or do you just want to brag? Regardless, there's no doubt you don’t enjoy exploration. 
The workplace of a group of blacksmiths, featuring many hand crafted tools. A tribute to the blacksmiths and fellow craftsmen at the time. Professions that have and will supply us with the many of the comforts we have today and to the intricacies we may design our households with. Without their ability to withstand the heat, toughen their bodies, and to perfect their talent we would have little of what we take for granted today.
Southampton Museums
She first gave us an insight into who were the first people to discover the Americas. It wasn't actually Columbus who set foot on the Americas first it was actually the Dutch. The first Dutch to set foot in the Americas went by the name of Adrian Block in 1516, this was two decades before Columbus’s journey. But when the dutch found the Americas they realized that they had hit new land that other than the native Americans hadn't been touched by the other side of the world. Whereas Christopher Columbus didn’t realize that he thought it was Asia until he realized it wasn’t. One of the key differences between what the Dutch did and what Columbus did was their view on the “new world”. The Dutch really didn’t care for it. They saw it as an opportunity for trade and that's all. They never thought of a long-term stay as Columbus did. The dutch commercialized their trade in the Americas and left nothing more. But when Columbus comes here we see that he was thinking long term, that this was a place they needed to settle in and would be in everyone’s best interest to stay there.
After talking about Columbus and the Dutch we moved on to why England wasn’t paying much attention to the Americas at this point of exploration. It all had come down to king Henry the seventh; he was the reason Europe was behind in exploring the Americas. King Henry married Queen Elizabeth, forming an alliance. People loved her because she was the symbol of the catholic church. But once it came down to giving the king an heir she wasn’t fit for the job she had only a baby girl and multiple miscarriages. Later on, when she got older and would not be able to give birth to any more children successfully king henry wanted to divorce her to marry her lady in waiting. But divorce was founded upon in the cholic church. King Henry was denied the divorce and out of anger and not getting his way he decided to take matters into his own hands. He decided to create his own church that he ruled over, calling it the church of England. Here he successfully divorces Elizabeth and marries the lady in waiting but the same occurs again she is unable to provide an heir. King Henry marries another 3 times or more and finally gets his son. Finally an heir to the throne. But by the time the drama with the king was over exploration of the new world had already begun and England had greatly fallen behind.
We once again got onto the vans and drove down to the South Hampton Museum. Once we got there we were greeted by a Stonybrook welcome sign with two dogs on it dressed as humans. I told myself how bizarre it is for dogs to be on the welcome sign but it all made sense once I walked into the next room. The first room we walked into was painted bright pink and had many pictures of dogs and cats all over. It was later explained the reason why the room was painted this bright barbie pink. Back in the day when candlelight was the only source of light we had houses painted bright colors. By having the room painted this barbie pink it helped reflect the light that came in during the day from the sun until it set. This color was very reflective allowing it to ultimately the whole room without having to use candles. Then we learned the reason why the room was filled with dog paintings. Having a dog was like you were showing your status to the rest of the town. The fact that you could feed your whole family and still have leftovers to feed the dog as well showed how much money you had. A poorer family wouldn’t be able to have a dog because they would barely have enough food to feed themselves let alone also feed the dog. So by having a dog you could differentiate who had money and who did not.
by Abbie Belknap
Houses can usually be viewed as a reflection of the people who live inside. We decorate our houses in our own personal styles, but did you know you can tell a lot more about the family from just the decor? The Southampton History Museum provides a beautiful example of this. In the late 1800’s, decorating your house was less about what you liked and more about how you could express your wealth to others.
In a closet somewhere boxed away is my mom's expensive wedding china. Probably never to be used except on very, very important occasions (I still have never used it). However, in the Rogers Mansion, china like this was used for everyday meals. Using such china for every meal shows a general lack of caution about potential chips or breakages. Knowing that if anything happens to break, it's not a big deal and could easily be replaced indicates an immense amount of wealth. Not just any family can afford to replace such expensive china.
This picture shows an example of china that would have been used by the Rogers family at the time.
The intricate designs and gold-plated rims only increase the price of the china. As you can see, the dinnerware doesn't just include plates, bowls, and silverware, but also more specific dishes. Not every family would be able to afford all the special china, like tiny seafood forks and the copious serving platters.
Not only did housewares exhibit wealth, but the general decor did as well. When a stranger walked into your house, you wanted them to notice your high status. Items from other countries were one of the best ways to do this. Not only could these items be expensive in themselves, but they showed that you had traveled to buy them. Travel back in the 1800’s was not easy, nor was having items imported. It conveyed your high status to be able to afford such foreign items.
Located in the beautiful dining/ballroom of the Roger house are two giant displays of Chinese china.
Not only did housewares exhibit wealth, but the general decor did as well. When a stranger walked into your house, you wanted them to notice your high status. Items from other countries were one of the best ways to do this. Not only could these items be expensive in themselves, but they showed that you had traveled to buy them. Travel back in the 1800’s was not easy, nor was having items imported. It conveyed your high status to be able to afford such foreign items.
Located in the beautiful dining/ballroom of the Roger house are two giant displays of Chinese china.
Each piece depicts different Chinese scenes. Pieces like these would have been very expensive to import or to bring back to the United States.
Most of the time, decor items are seen as a genuine and fun way to decorate a house. However, they are much more than what meets the eye. They are a window into their owners’ lives. Each item tells its own story about how and why it is there.
Most of the time, decor items are seen as a genuine and fun way to decorate a house. However, they are much more than what meets the eye. They are a window into their owners’ lives. Each item tells its own story about how and why it is there.
Southampton Historical Museum
by James Stegman
One of the pieces of information that I found most interesting about the Southampton Historical Museum was the fact that most of the original paint colors still lined the walls of every room. Rooms of pink, green, and other vibrant colors were a common occurrence during this time period. Since there was no electric lighting, utilizing the sun as your primary light source during the day was both easy and effective. One of the ways people found effectively distributed light in a room was to paint the walls in vibrant colors that would reflect light with ease. This technique was not invented in Southhampton but was actually used around the country in other estates such as Thomas Jefferson’s estate, Monticello. As you can see in the image below, it shows how the mantle was decorated in the house of a retired captain, but it also depicts the strange choice of color used to paint the walls.
Another interesting piece of information we learned about the house itself, is that it is not all original. This picture shown is of the South Hampton Historical Museum. However, we quickly learned that the large protruding section in the front was actually added to the house later to accommodate the owner's needs. These needs vary from a place for the women to work on sewing or other delicate crafts to a well-lit room. However, this room was also used to house their large collection of genuine fine china to inform their guests that they have traveled far and wide in their lives and should be viewed as “worldly”. This room was also used for entertainment purposes as it was large enough to host a party with room for a piano and even a dancefloor!
The estate, however, is not just a house. The property is much larger than photographed and housed many other authentic buildings and structures on the grounds—one of these structures being the stocks. In the photograph to the right, you can see a poor soul demonstrating the function of the stocks. During this time period, stocks were used as a form of public humiliation. Rather than arresting or killing a citizen who had broken a law or some religious rule, the local community would sentance them to time in the stocks. While the stocks were never locked, leaving early would result in public shunning and may eventually lead to an untimely death due to the refusal to trade for food and other basic necesseties. While staying in the stocks may seem easy going, it was far from it. It was a common occurance for local people to spit on you, throw rotten fruit and rocks, tickle, and insult you. So in theory, the punishment is not the worst thing immaginable, but depening on your fellow citizens, it could be made way worse.
Photo(s) Bibliography
“Our Properties: Southampton-History.” Southampton, https://www.southamptonhistory.org/our-properties.
Photo(s) Bibliography
“Our Properties: Southampton-History.” Southampton, https://www.southamptonhistory.org/our-properties.
by Vandana Menser
This portrait of Captain Albert Rogers is one of the first things one is met with upon entering the Rogers family house at Southampton History Museum. The telescope in hand and ship in the background are not just for aesthetics, but are rather indicative of who he was - a successful whaling captain. Symbolism in portrait paintings isn’t scarce in the slightest, as meaning has been woven into art since the dawn of time. But specific characteristics of a painting can often reveal more than what originally meets the eye when attempting to learn more about the figure it’s detailing. Cornucopias are interpreted as abundance, the sun can show a monarchy’s one great power, and flowers may represent growth and rebirth for whoever may be so blessed to be painted near them. One could choose to interpret the stormy clouds behind Captain Rogers to be demonstrative of how brave and skilled he was at sea, or his solemn expression to be his steadiness in the face of danger. No matter what you choose to gather from this portrait, it undeniably is a class symbol to be oohed and aahed at by guests fortunate enough to visit.
Another section that draws you in immediately is the museum's current exhibit on pets - it’s quite hard to miss. A bright room covered in portraits of people, dogs, people and their dogs, and the occasional cat or farm animal. This series of pieces does not neglect symbolism either; puppy portraits have their own host of meanings when it comes to being represented in art. Most basically, they represent loyalty and devotion. There is nothing quite like the relationship between a master and his canine companion. Dogs have been and will most likely continue to be man’s best friend - they provide protection, love, warmth, and security without the risk of betrayal or ulterior motives. Yet the display of purebred dogs, even today, can be matched to wealth and status. Dogs are often pictured on women’s laps, playing with children, or in identical pairs as seen on the right: something to separate them from the dirty animals of the working class. Having enough money to attain a portrait of the current head of household is one thing, but of animals residing on the property? This speaks of a family who worries not about collecting pennies.
Today, commissioning a portrait is less about hidden significance and more about pride in a loved one (including our pets) or capturing a memory of a specific moment in time: weddings, a matriarch/patriarch, or a young child doing something mischievous. But don’t let this stop you from observing all the elements of a painting -- you just might pick up on something special.
by Ian Robinson
Spread throughout the household were many displays of worldly possessions. An indicator of the world’s development in expansive trade networks and sailing efforts. With this said, our houses tell a story of who we are. From the decorations on our walls to the products we enjoy, a glimpse of our lives can be read by a guest or maybe a historian to one-day stumble upon it. Take some time to think about what your home reveals about yourself. Is it true to your character or is it misleading?
The sign of a sophisticated sailor. The helm of a ship housing to be smoked Cuban cigars. An expensive taste for foreign goods, but a casual way of flaunting it.
Set aside from the showcases and dining rooms, a window side table displays a game of Dominoes and other foreign goods. To escape from the rest of the household or guests, let's talk over a game. What’s a better way to enjoy your cigar, than to a game of dominoes and a glass of liquor? Glad to know that I’m not the only cultured one who enjoys Chinese classics. Now tell me about your travels, while I show you what a winner looks like.
A showcase piano at first sight from the entrance of the household rested up against a drawn map of the Americas. Judging by the looks of the map and the piano, the time was around the 18 hundreds. I didn’t know you had an ear for music. Now do you really play the piano or do you just want to brag? Regardless, there's no doubt you don’t enjoy exploration.
The workplace of a group of blacksmiths, featuring many hand crafted tools. A tribute to the blacksmiths and fellow craftsmen at the time. Professions that have and will supply us with the many of the comforts we have today and to the intricacies we may design our households with. Without their ability to withstand the heat, toughen their bodies, and to perfect their talent we would have little of what we take for granted today.
Southampton Museums
by Lindsey Segarra
This windy morning some of us started our day at 6 am to travel an hour and a half to the south Hampton campus. While almost arriving late because of the traffic. I still made it by 9:30 to board the van for our eventful day. As we made our way around the town of Southampton we stopped at a park and all gathered around Tara to hear what she was going to teach us.
This windy morning some of us started our day at 6 am to travel an hour and a half to the south Hampton campus. While almost arriving late because of the traffic. I still made it by 9:30 to board the van for our eventful day. As we made our way around the town of Southampton we stopped at a park and all gathered around Tara to hear what she was going to teach us.
She first gave us an insight into who were the first people to discover the Americas. It wasn't actually Columbus who set foot on the Americas first it was actually the Dutch. The first Dutch to set foot in the Americas went by the name of Adrian Block in 1516, this was two decades before Columbus’s journey. But when the dutch found the Americas they realized that they had hit new land that other than the native Americans hadn't been touched by the other side of the world. Whereas Christopher Columbus didn’t realize that he thought it was Asia until he realized it wasn’t. One of the key differences between what the Dutch did and what Columbus did was their view on the “new world”. The Dutch really didn’t care for it. They saw it as an opportunity for trade and that's all. They never thought of a long-term stay as Columbus did. The dutch commercialized their trade in the Americas and left nothing more. But when Columbus comes here we see that he was thinking long term, that this was a place they needed to settle in and would be in everyone’s best interest to stay there.
After talking about Columbus and the Dutch we moved on to why England wasn’t paying much attention to the Americas at this point of exploration. It all had come down to king Henry the seventh; he was the reason Europe was behind in exploring the Americas. King Henry married Queen Elizabeth, forming an alliance. People loved her because she was the symbol of the catholic church. But once it came down to giving the king an heir she wasn’t fit for the job she had only a baby girl and multiple miscarriages. Later on, when she got older and would not be able to give birth to any more children successfully king henry wanted to divorce her to marry her lady in waiting. But divorce was founded upon in the cholic church. King Henry was denied the divorce and out of anger and not getting his way he decided to take matters into his own hands. He decided to create his own church that he ruled over, calling it the church of England. Here he successfully divorces Elizabeth and marries the lady in waiting but the same occurs again she is unable to provide an heir. King Henry marries another 3 times or more and finally gets his son. Finally an heir to the throne. But by the time the drama with the king was over exploration of the new world had already begun and England had greatly fallen behind.
We once again got onto the vans and drove down to the South Hampton Museum. Once we got there we were greeted by a Stonybrook welcome sign with two dogs on it dressed as humans. I told myself how bizarre it is for dogs to be on the welcome sign but it all made sense once I walked into the next room. The first room we walked into was painted bright pink and had many pictures of dogs and cats all over. It was later explained the reason why the room was painted this bright barbie pink. Back in the day when candlelight was the only source of light we had houses painted bright colors. By having the room painted this barbie pink it helped reflect the light that came in during the day from the sun until it set. This color was very reflective allowing it to ultimately the whole room without having to use candles. Then we learned the reason why the room was filled with dog paintings. Having a dog was like you were showing your status to the rest of the town. The fact that you could feed your whole family and still have leftovers to feed the dog as well showed how much money you had. A poorer family wouldn’t be able to have a dog because they would barely have enough food to feed themselves let alone also feed the dog. So by having a dog you could differentiate who had money and who did not.
We moved on into the last room and it was huge. In the middle was the dining table and on the sides were the china and the multiple paintings of ships decorated the room. We learned that there was an add-on to that room: it was the windows and door looking out to the main road. This add-on was placed here because of the changing of the main road. Originally the main door of the house which is now on the right side was where the main road used to be but as the town changed over the years they decided to change the main road to the left. Now to look out on the main road they had to add this extra part of the house with windows so they could see what was happening on the main road. What was also interesting about this room was the decoration of the china and the painting of the ships. Both of these decorations were purposely used to show more of the family’s wealth. The paintings showed what the dad did for a living. It showed off his ships and the business he was in. telling people that he owned ships and owns part of the shipping company. The fine china did the same thing by showing people that came to the house that the family is well traveled and that they have china from all of the places they have traveled. They used all these tactics to show off their wealth to everyone.
That concludes the tour of the South Hampton museum. BYE!
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