A dynamic look at material life: the Charles W. Roberts family, 1848-1890

Date
1992
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University of Delaware
Abstract
The Charles and Martha Roberts family of Chester County, Pennsylvania, lived in a time and society which put great emphasis on the home, its management, and its decoration. They were prosperous, respected Quakers and active members of the community. They have left a legacy in the form of household account books which provide us a complex picture of their material life. ☐ Martha, and her daughters after her, faithfully recorded the family's expenditures for a forty-two-year period (1848-1890), beginning soon after Martha's marriage to Charles and ending a few years before his death. An analysis of these records reveals how changes in the family's lifestyle were reflected in their spending patterns. Some of these changes include moving from a farm to a small, but growing town and generational differences when the daughters take over the management of the household. These documents identify what cannot be found in probate or archaeological studies -- a cross-section of domestic life at the time of each purchase. ☐ This study provides an in-depth look at one family's response to their material needs and how that response was shaped by economic, social and ideological factors. Their story can provide us with information about life cycles and the personal circumstances that influence family life and choice of material goods.
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