The Eaddo and Peter Kiernan Lecture

Part 1: “Kingscote: A Global Experience”

Preservation Society Fellow Astrid Tvetenstrand

In support of a reinterpretation plan for Newport’s landmark Gothic Revival cottage Kingscote (1839), Social History Fellow Astrid Tvetenstrand’s research uncovered untold stories about the business and personal lives of the residents of Kingscote through a global lens.

Astrid will discuss the application of her research – including the examination of family travel albums documenting trips throughout Europe and Asia; David King Jr.’s account book recording his trading practices in China; personal correspondence; probate inventories; and documentation of the household domestic staff circa 1880 – to enrich our understanding of this landmark that witnessed many events that shaped American history.

Part 2: “Storytelling Objects”

Preservation Society Fellow Dani Zhang

Dani Zhang will discuss her research in support of the upcoming exhibition The Celestial City: Newport and China. Dani’s work has expanded our understanding of the rich and vibrant Chinese American community in 19th-century Newport and Chinese objects collected by their Gilded Age peers.

By examining the Chinese-crafted objects in the collection of the Preservation Society, Dani has illuminated a world of meaning: decoding imagery, identifying previously unknown Chinese artists, and uncovering the nuanced nature of traditional vs. Western utility. Ultimately, her work has enriched the Preservation Society’s understanding of individual objects and the associated collecting practices of Gilded Age Americans during this complex time.

Live at Marble House or via Zoom video conference