OT: dual staircases and ankle-showing

[Amy West]

Because I was skeptical of the dual staircase story that had been
told to Gerald Cohen, I took the liberty of posting a query on
Museum-L where historic house folks reside. While I haven't come up
with anything conclusive, others are skeptical as well, so I ask that
folks treat that story with caution.

---Amy West

(I am probably violating netiquette by forwarding the responses below
without asking the senders' permission.)

>Subject: Re: another historic house myth?
>
>We have taken on the task of debunking many historic house and
>museum myths through presentations to groups and publishing in our
>docent newsletter refutations and explanations. I have not heard of
>the dual staircase one but it has all the hallmarks of a myth. It is
>important when you start tackling a myth that you don't fall into
>the trap of trying to find evidence that something specific happened
>- you won't find it. You need to look at it as a historian does -
>look at the historical record for what did happen. It is very much
>like CSI - what does the evidence tell you? You will be fighting a
>losing battle if you try to prove something didn't happen, you need
>to demonstrate what did happen.
>
>A couple of places to start with this one would be:
>- when was the house built? - up until the late-19th century it was
>common place to see women's shoes and ankles under their dress
>
>-        look at architectural design books - dual staircases are
>not unusual, particularly in larger houses built to evoke English
>manor houses
>-        look at etiquette books to show what was considered
>"proper" behavior during the time period
>
>On the whole, many people over blow the whole ankle thing and many
>of the other Victorian era strictures on dress and behavior.
>
>Heidi Campbell-Shoaf, Curator
>Historical Society of Frederick County
>24 East Church Street
>Frederick, Md. 21701
>www.hsfcinfo.org



>Subject: Re: another historic house myth?
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>I've heard that story as well, but I've never heard any proof. It
>smacks of myth to me as well. My guess would be that the staircases
>were designed that way more as a reflection of the (often)
>symmetrical design of (often) Greek Revival architecture found in
>southern states, both from an exterior viewpoint, and in its floor
>plan.
>
>A look into a good field guide to American Architecture might help
>shed further light on that myth.
>
>Just my two cents for what they're worth.
>
>Dan
>
>Dan Schoeneberg
>Experience Research Manager
>
>Conner Prairie
>13400 Allisonville Road
>Fishers, Indiana
>46038
>www.connerprairie.org
>



>Subject: Re: another historic house myth?
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>This sounds HIGHLY unlikely. What period is the house? Feminine
>ankle-revealing was perfectly acceptable at many points in time from
>the late-eighteenth-century on, although not throughout the entire
>19th century. From what you describe, I'm envisioning one of those
>gorgeous double hemi-spherical sweeping staircases, which had
>everything to do with architectural style and elegance, and nothing,
>to the best of my knowledge, to do with gender.
>
>Hillary Murtha
>University of Delaware

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