Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology

 

This exhibition examines the simultaneously secret and subversive nature of the 1920s—from its art, music and literature to its technological inventions, from its economic boom to its bust, from suffrage to flapper culture, Prohibition to immigration. Authentic artifacts illustrate the ways in which innovations, inventions, and pop cultural movements in the 1920s fostered lasting change on American society. 

Immersive and engaging, the exhibition is contained within a recreation of a typical 1920s apartment, complete with authentic, period furniture and rare artifacts including flapper dresses, Art Deco jewelry, first edition books, toys, and 1920s household inventions such as toasters, radios, telephones and record players! Each room tells a story of a real person who lived during the 1920s: a flapper girl, a poor immigrant, a middle-class boy. They come from the major families who loaned or donated their artifacts to the Museum, and we are grateful for their support:

• Toys, flapper dresses, and books from the Schlendorf Vintage Collection, which was donated to the Museum by Mary and Neil Schlendorf of Wyckoff, NJ.
• Medicinal whiskey on loan from Thea Schlendorf
• Radios, phonographs, furniture and jewelry from the Di Giovine-Harwood Family of Langhorn;
• Dresses, letters, and personal affects from the Morrill family of Portland, Oregon;
• Film equipment, photographs, and fashion from the Nammavong family of Upper Darby. 

A luxurious, beaded flapper wedding dress on loan from the Borough’s own Malena’s Vintage Boutique wows visitors, and artifacts showing the transition in 1927 from the West Chester Normal School to the West Chester State Techers College are featured. 

While exploring the apartment, find clues to locate a secret passage to our very own interactive speakeasy, with an authentic slot machine, bar and glassware, and even unopened prescription whisky bottles from the era! Never-before-seen photos of immigrant and speakeasy culture are provided by Dan Slater, author of The Incorruptibles: A True Story of Kingpins, Crime Bosses, and the Birth of the American Underworld. A stage will host student jazz bands throughout the run of the exhibition, and visitors can even try their hand at playing a recreated theremin!

The Jazz Age is in full gear, and the speakeasy also features several authentic instruments courtesy of the Hartenberger World Music Collection, including a one-of-a-kind Royal Slide Saxophone, an instrument invented in the 1920s that is half trombone, half sax. One a few exist in the world, and this one is the only copper-plated one in existence!

So dust off your flapper dresses and bowler hats, revel in the music of the Jazz Age, and enjoy the exhibition—we think it’s the cat’s meow!

Credits

Curators: Michael A. Di Giovine, Professor of Anthropology and Director, Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology; Thomas Haughey, Associate Professor of Theater and Exhibits Designer, Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology
Graduate Student Curator: Mary Moyer, MA Candidate in History
Student Co-Curators: C.J. Ballard, Clara Cammidge, Michaela Crandley, Katharine DeMaria, Jonmarie Guzowski, Jaime Hamilton, Jachin Mapily, Paige Mervine, Emily Nammavong, Dezarae Parker, Carmela Rubino, Geoffrey Soland, Katie Ulmer, Lauren Yingling
Exhibit Design: Thomas Haughey, Associate Professor of Theater; Exhibits Designer, Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology
Graphic Design: Stephanie Thompson, Publications Assistant, WCU Graphics and Printing
Virtual Exhibition: Hannah Glatt, PA Alliance for Design for Design of Open Textbooks; and Tom Pantazes, WCU Teaching and Learning Center
Special thanks to our donors and lenders: Avista Custom Theatrical Services; Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles; Cheryl Cox; Patricia Davidson; Julia Delpino and family; Daniel DeMaria; Di Giovine-Harwood Family; Frazier Crossing Antiques; Pam Gilly, PS Vintage; Hartenberger World Music Collection; Timothy Jones, University of Maryland; Malena’s Vintage Boutique; Morrill-Di Giovine family; Nammavong Family; Dezarae Parker; Jeff and Jessica Peak, Fields and Flannel Finds Boutique; Dan Slater; Mary, Neil and Thea Schlendorf