William Olichney, Randolph College, Bachelor of History and Economics
Introduction
Architect Marsha Fader’s work restoring the Boston-Higginbotham House gives opportunities for interpreting the site. Other house curations in Nantucket, such as the Hadwen House or the Maria Mitchell House, emphasize a museum-like curation experience. Due to the age and fragility of the artifacts in these sites, there is an informative experience. The Boston-Higginbotham House has the opportunity to find a niche as a habitable, comfortable, and informative experience.
A first step to interpreting the Boston-Higginbotham House that would not detract from its historical significance or hospitable experience would be to recreate teaware artifacts from the site or the periods of the Boston or Higginbotham families. Nantucket has a history of tea. Nantucket’s demand for tea encouraged voyages to China, portrayed the wealth of Nantucket families, and underscored the economic necessity of boarding economy for the island’s women to survive. Putting this replica teaware in William Boston’s cabinet and providing a digital display link to my ArcGIS story map would inform and immerse visitors into the Boston-Higginbotham House and Nantucket’s underrepresented history of tea and tradition.
Was your inspiration a PIN Report or other? What is the missing information? Why does this need to be addressed?
This project was inspired by Marsha Fader’s request for interpretation and popularizing the Boston-Higginbotham House. While Marsha Fader’s work restored the site to a hospitable and welcoming state, work must be done to interpret the site. The Boston-Higginbotham House could avoid traditional house curations similar to the Hadwen House or the Maria Mitchell House, by fulfilling a niche of a Living History-style curation experience.
Why is your work important?
Archaeology and Anthropology researchers Dr. Nedra Lee, Dr. David Landon, and Victoria Cacchione, from University of Massachusettes, provide interpretations of the artifacts recovered from the Boston-Higginbotham house. Still, their work is yet to be accessible to the people wanting a heritage culture experience. This proposed interpretation builds off of their work in providing a curatorial experience.
Nantucket’s tea history also delves into several themes that can be highlighted with this curation. The Whaling Period focuses on whaling, but this high economic time also provides other exciting stories. This curation touches on multiple historical themes and creates a hospitable environment.
What was your methodology? What resources did you use?
My first interest was exploring an opportunity to better present and distinguish the differences and highlights of the NHA’s collection of porcelain. I researched Nantucket’s porcelain through the China trade, using the book, “From Brant Point to the Boca Tigris,” written by former NHA director, Michael Jehle. After visiting the Boston-Higginbotham House, I found the opportunity for interpretation of Chinese porcelain and the China Trade.
After speaking with Marsha Fader to learn more about the program needs, I contacted Dr. Landon to discuss what he knew of the site’s teaware artifacts. He sent me copies of Dr. Nedra Lee’s and Victoria Cacchione’s research on the site’s artifacts to familiarize me with the site’s tea history.
Combining Nantucket tea history, the Boston and Higginbotham families’ tea history, and global tea history into an ArcGIS story map best displays this information.
What are your findings, proposal, or recommendations?
I recommend putting replica porcelain (possibly 3d printed on site) into the William Boston Wing’s cabinets for event use or for those inhabiting the space. If replica porcelain from the site can not be made, put in blue and white porcelain, as this was the type of porcelain recovered.
What are next steps or further research to be done?
Create more events and interpretations for the Boston-Higginbotham House.
Citation List
- Basset, Seymour. 1954. “The Quakers and Communitarianism.” Bulletin of Friends Historical Association 43 (2): 84–99.
- Cacchione, Victoria. 2019. “Public Face and Private Life: Identity through Ceramics at the Boston-Higginbotham House on Nantucket.” Journal of African Diaspora Archaeology and Heritage 8 (1–2): 57–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/21619441.2019.1644826.
- China Marked G.S. for Gideon Swain. Mid 19th century. Porcelain. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Chinese Export Porcelain Cider Pitcher with Lid. n.d. Porcelain. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Chinese Porcelain Vase. Mid 19th century. Porcelain. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Fon Qua. 1855. View of Whampoa Anchorage. Collection of the Peabody & Essex Museum.
- Jehle, Michael. 1994. From Brant Point to the Boca Tigris. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Lee, Nedra. 2019. “Boarding: Black Women in Nantucket Generating Income and Building Community.” Transforming Anthropology 27 (2): 91–104.
- Maria Mitchell Association. n.d. “Historic Mitchell House.”
- Masonic Cider Jug from Canton. 1804. Porcelain. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Philbrick, Nathaniel. 1994. Away off Shore Nantucket and Its People: 1602-1890. Penguin Books.
- Phoebe Folger Teacup. n.d. Porcelain. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Pitcher, Chinese. 1810. Porcelain. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Rappaport, Erika. 2017. A Thirst for Empire: How Tea Shaped the Modern World. Princeton University Press.
- Saucer Believed to Have Belonged to Abiah Folger Franklin. n.d. Porcelain. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Spoilum. 1802a. Chung Qua. Oil on Canvas. Collection of Jane Congdon Quinby.
- ———. 1802b. James Cary. Oil on Canvas. Collection of Jane Congdon Quinby.
- ———. 1804. Joseph Plaskett. Oil on Canvas.
- ———. 1806. Joseph Winslow. Oil on Canvas.
- Tea from the Ship Mars. n.d.
- Teacup, Saucer and Plate. 1803. Porcelain. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Teapot. n.d. Porcelain. Nantucket Historical Association.
- Unknown. 1860. The Royal British Navy off the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, 19th Century.
Contact List
- Marsha Fader, AIA
- Dr. Landon, UMass Boston
- Dr. Nedra Lee, UMass Boston
- Mike Harrison, Chief Curator, NHA
- Michael Jehle, former Director, NHA