18th-Century Military Use of Tinware-
Tinplate objects were functional, light, and cheap, qualities that appealed to the 18th-century military for their logistic importance. Armies and navies of Western European nations consumed good amounts of tinware that was often produced in their own armouries. The Williamsburg Armoury Tinshop is a case of a well-documented metal-working site expanding into the production of tinware to supply Virginia troops.
Steve Delisle
is Journeyman Tinsmith at the James Anderson Blacksmith Shop and Publick Armoury at Colonial Williamsburg.
American-made Bayonets during the War for Independence
-
At the onset of the American Revolution, many blacksmiths were called upon to make bayonets for American forces. This presentation will analyze a series of American-made bayonets and discuss the variety of ways in which they were constructed by these smiths.
Derek Heidemann
is the owner of Resurrection Iron Works and Coordinator of Men's Crafts at Old Sturbridge Village.
The Clothing of Conflict: Military Dress at Fort Ticonderoga-
Fort
Ticonderoga's uniform collection represents an almost unbroken catalog of the evolution of military dress from the 1770s through the 1840s, making it the most comprehensive of its kind in North America. This presentation will introduce the scope of the collection, share its highlights, and present the results of new research on this important resource.
Matthew Keagle
is the Curator of the Fort Ticonderoga Museum.
George Washington's Disappearing Ribbon and the Memory of the American Revolution
-
From 1775 to 1779, General George Washington wore a blue silk shoulder ribbon as the symbol of his rank as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. This talk evaluates the possibility that a recently re-discovered blue-moire-silk ribbon in Harvard University's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography is in fact Washington's Revolutionary War decoration. It highlights evidence in the technology used in the object's construction, and also explores the cultural history of its ownership and display as a "relic" of Washington.
Phil Mead
is Historian and Curator at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
Clothing Rogers Rangers-
Continuing with the theme of 18th-century clothing, this presentation discusses the materials that survive from the companies of Rangers that served in North America during the final French & Indian War. Powder Horns, buttons, knives, and other items that actually belonged to these men will be the focus, as well as relevant examples that survive from that period. Simultaneously, examination of the surviving written records on Rangers will provide a deeper idea of what objects these men carried with them and what they were made of. After all, the materials really do matter to understand their world.
Gibb Zea
is Artificer Tailor at Fort Ticonderoga.
You can learn more about "Material Matters" and how to register on our website by selecting the "Learn More" button below.
