Re: What is the paddle object
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2022 13:49:31 +0000 (UTC)
From: Elizabeth Terlinden <terlinden@sbcglobal.net>
Message-ID: <2093578196.2293894.1641908971525@mail.yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: What is the paddle object
In response to Brian's post, I did a search on old cooking schools and cam
e to this photo which seems to prove his point.
http://historiccookingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1900-BCSchool.j
pg
Elizabeth TerlindenTownn of River Falls
On Monday, January 10, 2022, 07:58:12 PM CST, Brian Bigler <On Monday, January 10, 2022, 07:58:12 PM CST, Brian Bigler <usemeum@mht
c.net> wrote:
I will take a guess at the photo of the women holding the wooden "paddles"
but I have never seen an object like those they are holding before.
The dress and the production of the photo seem to date it to c.1890 because
of the high puffed sleeves. The hats they are wearing look like thos
e of domestics. Nursing hats from the period wrapped and stood in a p
eek and these are flat much like a servant would wear. Also known as
dust caps.
The objects they are holding are not boat oars for a women's rowing team of
the period and are not cut down versions of such. They are also not
wearing the more masculine attire that female rowers wore at the end of the
nineteenth century.
You will note that each wooden item has a bow on it telling me they are pre
sentation pieces presented for accomplishment or the successful completion
of a course.
The wooden devices look like objects used in stirring in large kettles or v
ats. They are not clothes forks used in laundry, but may very well be
used in the production of large quantities of apple butter, or candy, and
perhaps bread making. They are not bread peels as the ends are not th
in enough and the shape is wrong.
So, with all of this I would surmise that this is some sort of specialized
cooking or class dedicated to processing and the man in the photo would be
the instructor. This is most likely a photo taken on the completion o
f the class or singular course.
Would be interested if someone out there has the true answer as I am always
interested in learning more on material culture.
You may also want to run this by Joe Kappler - Wisconsin State Historical S
ociety Curator
Sincerely - Brian J. Bigler
Exhibit Designer and Consultant - Mount Horeb
On 1/10/2022 3:59 PM, Sarah Taylor wrote:
Hello Jon,
A year range would be helpful. Does the photo have a date?
I agree with those who’ve already posted. I’d guess the o
bjects are either boating paddles or culinary tools. It appears that the wo
men in the front row are holding paddles of a much smaller size, so I am le
aning culinary—perhaps they are bread-baking paddles, which were co
mmonly used at the time, especially in commercial settings.
It’s the women’s clothes I am interested in as a clue. Th
ey look like Navy nurses from WWI:
Perhaps the women in your photo are employed as nurses or caretakers at a
medical institution, and the paddles are their tools for making food for r
esidents?
Quite the mystery!
Best,
Sarah Taylor (she/her/hers)
Collections Management Assistant Division of Library, Archives, and Mu
seum Collections
Wisconsin Historical Society
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706 sarah.taylor@wisconsinhistory.org
Wisconsin Historical Society
Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing Stories Since 1846
On Jan 10, 2022, at 10:41 AM, Douglas County Historical Society <On Jan 10, 2022, at 10:41 AM, Douglas County Historical Society <dchs@dougl
ashistory.org> wrote:
What is the paddle object these young ladies are holding?
Jon Winter Douglas County Historical Society 1101 John Avenue Superio
r WI 54880
Business Manager 715-392-8449
<jan22_0060.jpg>
This archive was generated on Tue Jan 11 2022 - 18:33:54 Central Standard Time