Delaware State of the Arts Podcast
Delaware State of the Arts is a weekly podcast that presents interviews with arts organizations and leaders who contribute to the cultural vibrancy of communities throughout Delaware. Delaware State of the Arts is provided as a service of the Division of the Arts, in partnership with NEWSRADIO 1450 WILM and 1410 WDOV.
Delaware State of the Arts Podcast
S12 E45: Delaware State of the Arts - Read House and Gardens
Discover the fascinating tapestry of Delaware's history and culture with our special guest, Laura Earls, the director of Read House and Gardens. Laura's passion for museums and local history is infectious as she takes us on a journey through Delaware's rich past. From exploring the architectural gems of the Reed House to uncovering its connections to Declaration of Independence signer George Read, Laura provides a captivating look at the community's commitment to preserving its heritage. Don't miss her insights into programs like Dr. Melissa Benbow Flowers' tour, which celebrates the homes of Black communities in Old New Castle, highlighting the area's diverse historical narratives.
Venture into the vibrant world of Delaware's arts scene as we spotlight the Delaware Division of the Arts and their mission to nurture creativity statewide. Tune in for an engaging discussion on the transformative impact of art and history in our communities.
The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is committed to supporting the arts and cultivating creativity to enhance the quality of life in Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Learn more at Arts.Delaware.Gov.
Delaware State of the Arts is a weekly podcast that presents interviews with arts organizations and leaders who contribute to the cultural vibrancy of communities throughout Delaware. Delaware State of the Arts is provided as a service of the Division of the Arts, in partnership with NEWSRADIO 1450 WILM and 1410 WDOV.
For Delaware State of the Arts, I'm Andy Truscott. My guest today is Laura Earls, the director of the Reed House and Gardens, which is a part of the Delaware Historical Society. Earls, a museum professional and historian of gender and material culture in early America, has worked in collections, management and interpretation at institutions including the Nemours Estate, the Museum of the American Revolution and the Winterthur Museum the Nemours Estate, the Museum of the American Revolution and the Winterthur Museum. She formerly served as a graduate assistant and contractor at Delaware Historical Society's Research Library. Today we'll speak with her about Delaware Historical Society's upcoming Lit for the Holidays, delaware's Changing Winter Landscapes event, which is going to be running December 14th through the 29th. Laura, thanks again for joining us and, as we kick off here, tell us a little bit about yourself what brought you to the Reed House and Delaware Historical Society and kind of what excites you about the work that you all do.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me today, and I have. I've always wanted to work in museums since I was a child and I went to graduate school for history and museum studies at the University of Delaware and graduated with a PhD in the history of American civilization at the University of Delaware last year In Delaware, which included, of course, as you said, the Delaware Historical Society Research Library, which got me interested in Delaware's local history. It was really wonderful to come back to a place that was such an important part of my own graduate education and my own training as an emerging museum professional, and I am really excited about the many stories that we tell at the Reed House and Gardens. We look not only at the families who lived here, such as the Reeds, coopers and Lairds. We also told the stories of the many people who lived and worked here. There are so many fascinating stories that speak not only to Delaware's history but national and global history as well.
Speaker 1:For those that maybe don't know much about what or where the Delaware Historical Society is, can you give us a bit of a background on the organization and kind of what makes it so integral to not only the history of Delaware but the future of the Delaware way?
Speaker 2:Absolutely so. The Delaware Historical Society is a non-profit that was founded in 1864. And we are made up of nine historic buildings that have roots in Delaware's past and we have a really wonderful collection of over 3 million objects, books, documents, photographs and maps. And eight of those nine historic buildings are at our Wilmington campus in Willingtown Square, which is on Market Street in Wilmington, and then here at the Reed House in Old Newcastle. We are the ninth historic building and we are the only private nonprofit organization whose mission is to serve as Delaware's statewide organization that explores, preserves, promotes and shares Delaware's history, heritage and culture, to educate and inspire and empower people and communities.
Speaker 1:Tell us why they should be encouraged to go inside to learn more and to kind of better understand why this is such an important part of preservation.
Speaker 2:So we get all sorts of visitors at both campuses and at the Reed House. You know this was the house of George Reed II, son of George Reed I, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, so a lot of folks who are interested in the Reeds will come in. We also have a lot of interest that comes from people who are interested in early American decorative arts, material culture, because this house is such a wonderful example of Philadelphia federal architecture and we have a lot of really wonderful unique features to the architecture of the house. A lot of people enjoy the punch and gouge trimming in a lot of the house and we essentially get a lot of people who are interested in early American history, decorative arts, material culture, gardens and landscapes as well, because we do have gardens attached to the house and we are also working on a garden revitalization project which will enhance the accessibility of the space for all of our visitors. So there's really something for everyone. If you're interested in Delaware's, heritage.
Speaker 1:As it relates to visiting, what can visitors expect when they show up? So is it like I should buy a ticket, get a tour arranged in advance, or is it these are kind of open hours that allows me to kind of peruse through the house, peruse through any of the Delaware historical locations and kind of learn about history at my own pace.
Speaker 2:The Delaware History Museum is open from Wednesday to Saturday 12 to 5 pm and that we have a. We have a core exhibit there that visitors are free to walk through. But at the Reed House and Gardens our normal operating hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 am until 4 pm and we offer tours on the hours. So the visitors experience the house through guided tours with our wonderful museum. Our museum ambassadors do a wonderful job really immersing visitors in the many stories that this house tells.
Speaker 1:What excites you the most about not only kind of Delaware's history but the history that you're able to kind of curate through the Reeds.
Speaker 2:House most since coming here is just. I'm very energized by how invested the people in the Newcastle community and beyond in Delaware are invested in the well-being and the longevity of this house, and I love getting to see all the different ways that people have been involved here or how their interests bring them into getting getting involved here, and it's Delaware's is such a I'm a transplant to Delaware, so it's it's been great to see you know the Delaware way in all things. I suppose you know the Delaware way in all things, I suppose. And it's Delaware is such a unique place with such an interesting situation in American history and I think that the stories that we tell about the history of this house and the space that we offer people to explore that history is just a really, really wonderful way to tell all sorts of stories.
Speaker 1:Can you describe any specific programs or initiatives that maybe have been successful in engaging new or diverse audiences at either the Historical Society or the Reed House?
Speaker 2:more recent programs. That happened shortly before I arrived here was Dr Melissa Benbow Flowers tour. These houses were homes five generations of Black community in Old Newcastle and essentially Dr Flowers was a graduate intern from the University of Delaware at the Reed House this past summer and she did research about Black history in Newcastle and offered this really wonderful walking tour of old Newcastle. That sold out twice and people really enjoyed it and we are fortunate enough that we get to continue developing that tour into a permanent offering that will essentially be a joint special tour offering between the Reed House and the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage at the Delaware Historical Society.
Speaker 1:Are there any particular collaborations with other organizations or community groups in Delaware that you think really set the Historical Society apart in terms of its programming?
Speaker 2:I think that a lot of the close relationships that we have with faculty and students at the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University of Delaware, I believe that sets us apart. I mean, the relationship the Historical Society has with UD is how I got involved in the organization in the first place and I believe that the connections that we maintain with educational institutions help us stay in tune with what students need, with what emerging professionals need, and keeps us up to date on the field.
Speaker 1:I want to take just a minute here to remind our listeners. You're listening to Delaware State of the Arts on News Radio 1450 WILM and 1410 WDOV. Laura, thanks again for bringing this to our attention, this great event coming up Lit for the Holidays Delaware's Changing Winter Landscapes. Talk to us a little bit about what makes the event unique, why the Historical Society is so excited about bringing it through and maybe what visitors can expect. Landscapes talk to us a little bit about what makes the event unique, why the historical society is so excited about bringing it through and maybe what visitors can expect to see when they visit the exhibit of course, so lit for the holidays this year is basically.
Speaker 2:It is a continuation of a long-standing tradition at the reed house in which lydia and Philip Laird, former owners of the house in the 20th century, would ring in the holiday season with winter parties. So Lit is essentially a continuation of that. That includes an exhibit, and this year's is titled Delaware's Changing Winter Landscapes, and it essentially so. Lit for the Holidays is a party that opens the exhibit Delaware's Changing Winter Landscapes that will then be on view from December 14th until December 29th, and the party this year is going to feature wonderful entertainment and catering. We will have live music from Bruce Anthony caroling with vocal points from the University of Delaware, complimentary beverages and we will have catering by Toscano this year.
Speaker 2:And the exhibit itself includes artwork that will be displayed throughout the Reed House alongside dried floral arrangements that have been lovingly crafted by our staff here at the Reed House from flowers in Our Own Gardens. So it will be a real celebration of the Reed House Gardens, and the exhibit features drawings and paintings from not only the collections of the Delaware Historical Society but also the private collections of members of the Newcastle community, as well as paintings by plein air artists from the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, and overall, what this exhibit does is showcase how winter scenes have changed from the 19th century until today, and I want visitors to really think about how we can best care for and steward Delaware's landscapes for future generations.
Speaker 1:One might not know that the Historical Society has, like a collection right of art. Talk to us about what might qualify a piece of art to be kind of housed in that collection and kind of how the staff or you as the director kind of come together and curate a show of this type based on what you kind of have in your background.
Speaker 2:So our collections are largely Delaware focused, as you might imagine, and the exhibit will feature not only art but objects from everyday life. You know what made winter survivable for people in the past before modern refrigeration? The conveniences of modern life, essentially. And we do have art in our collections and there will be a few pieces by Howard Pyle and Robert Shaw, who are two Delaware artists. Howard Pyle is known for his children's book illustrations and Robert Shaw is known for his Delaware landscape artwork. And essentially how these exhibits come together is we have our wonderful collections and access department that is based in Wilmington and, working with my colleagues over there, we're able to work out the logistics of what objects do we have, what might fit with the idea that I'm having, what might fit with the idea that I'm having, and we're also able to essentially figure out just the logistics of display and moving the objects and making the labels and all of those sorts of things.
Speaker 1:This is an annual event, as you had brought up. Are there other annual events such as this or even upcoming major exhibits that the Reed House or the Historical Society is really excited about in 2025?
Speaker 2:So this is our main annual event, and I am especially excited about the January book talk. Well, it's going to be a moderated conversation between two historians of the Declaration of Independence, and we're going to be talking about the you know who was included in the Declaration of Independence and when and we'll be talking about the parameters of citizenship in the new nation.
Speaker 1:Thank you for bringing up the Delaware 250, because that you guys obviously bake right into that. Talk to us about kind of what's so exciting about this kind of probably once-in-a a generation opportunity right to not only highlight Delaware's history but be a part of it. As we approach our 250th anniversary, does the Historical Society have any exciting plans for that coming up?
Speaker 2:Our programming and our upcoming you know exhibit plans at least for what I have planned for the Read House for 2026, is focused on Delaware 250. So I'd say that a lot of our interpretation is focused on how the history that we explore here really exemplifies a lot of, a lot of what the semi-concentennial is is looking at. I know we're all especially compelled by the, the idea of unfinished revolutions and and what we can all do as, as Delawareans, to continue to live up to those ideals.
Speaker 1:Talk to us about how the public can get involved with not only the Reed House but the Historical Society as it relates to tickets, memberships, donations, if they're particularly interested in supporting you guys. What's kind of the best first step that someone can make Become a member of the?
Speaker 2:Delaware Historical Society. Become a member of the Delaware Historical Society and you can do that at dehistoryorg. And becoming a member of DHS does mean that you can also be involved in the Reed House. The Reed House is part, because the Reed House is part, of the Delaware Historical Society. We have specific mailing lists for people who are especially interested in the Reed House. And, like I had mentioned earlier, to purchase tickets for Lit for the Holidays, go to reedhouseandgardensorg, backslash lit 2024. And there are sponsorship levels available there if you're interested in supporting us further than your ticket purchase there if you're interested in supporting us further than your ticket purchase.
Speaker 1:As we wrap up here, talk to me about maybe a specific message you'd like to share with the public about the importance of supporting kind of an organization like this who is focused on contextualizing and presenting Delaware's history and what you think the public can learn from learning more about what brings us together and what's brought us here as Delawareans the stories we tell are your stories as well, and everybody has.
Speaker 2:everyone should be invested in their local history. Essentially, we just we can't do what we do without that support.
Speaker 1:Laura, one of the outcomes of a great attendance to this event right is that it helps support the upcoming garden project for the Reed House. Tell us a little bit more about that project and what makes you so excited for it.
Speaker 2:So we have been working on a garden revitalization project here at the Reed House and Gardens and essentially what we aim to do there is to enhance the accessibility of the gardens and make it a more hospitable event space, and we've been in the design phases planning what we're going to do. It's very important to us to maintain the historical layout of the gardens because there's such a unique survival of Victorian gardens Victorian gardens and as we've been thinking about the longevity of our gardens and how to best preserve them so that the public can enjoy them, lit encourages us to think about how we best care for the environment around us, not only in the winter season, but year round.
Speaker 1:Laura, thank you so much for joining me today. You can learn more about the Delaware Historical Society by visiting their website at dehistoryorg or, as she mentioned, readhouseandgardensorg, which is R-E-A-D. Houseandgardensorg. Laura, have a great rest of your afternoon and good luck with your event.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me and I hope to see you at Lit for the Holidays.
Speaker 1:Delaware State of the Arts is a weekly podcast that presents interviews with arts organizations and leaders who contribute to the cultural vibrancy of communities throughout Delaware. Delaware State of the Arts is provided as a service of the Delaware Division of the Arts in partnership with News Radio, 1450 WILM and 1410 WDOV. The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is committed to supporting the arts and cultivating creativity to enhance the quality of life in Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. To find out more about the division, visit artsdelawaregov.
