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From: 05:30 PM to 07:00 PM
Join us for a talk by Dr. Megan Rhodes Victor on the history and archaeology of molly houses, clandestine locations in the English colonies wherein gay men and cross-dressing individuals could meet and participate in elaborate gendered performances. They served as spaces to interact, socialize with others like them, engage in more intimate relations, and participate in complex rituals simulating births, ballroom dances, marriages, and tea parlor gatherings. As taverns, molly houses were places where individuals could conduct social negotiation and form bonds of community, due to these buildings inherent alcosocial nature. Taverns were largely male-coded drinking spaces in the 18th century, and yet these were also one of the few places where women especially unmarried or widowed women could work and even manage (or own) a business. This apparent gender contradiction may have played a role in taverns and inns serving as the location for molly houses. Dr. Victor will discuss how the Molly House Project seeks to explore these archaeological spaces and provide a window into the lived experience of individuals in LGBTQ+ communities in the eighteenth century.
Dr. Victor is an anthropologist who specializes in historical archaeology from 1700 to 1900 CE. In particular, she is interested in commensal politics, drinking spaces, trade and exchange, informal economy, and gendered spaces. She received her BA in Anthropology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI in 2010, her MA in 2012 and her PhD in 2018, both from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. She held a postdoctoral scholarship at the Stanford Archaeology Center at Stanford University, where she directed the archaeological excavations of the Arboretum Chinese Labor Quarters (ACLQ).
Townsend Talks is a monthly lecture series in which speakers from Long Island and around the country offer fascinating insights into history, decorative arts, architecture, horticulture, and other fields that connect with our site and our mission. Lectures are $20 for museum members, $25 for nonmembers, and $10 for students (with ID) unless otherwise noted. The program begins in the Visitors Center, and light refreshments are included.
Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Raynham Hall Museum
20 West Main Street, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
$20 museum members, $25 nonmembers, $10 students (with ID)
Christopher Judge
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