Coopers, Peddlers, and Bricklayers: Stories of a Working-Class Property through Public Archaeology in Washington, DC
Author(s): L. Chardé Reid; Julianna Jackson; John M Hyche; Lyle Torp; Charles H Leedecker
Year: 2018
Summary
An archaeological investigation of a lot where a former frame shotgun house once stood offers a unique look at 19th century working-class immigrant households. A German immigrant carpenter built the house before 1853 and it was successively occupied by a peddler, cooper, and bricklayer; little is known about their lives. Prior to redevelopment, the DC HPO Archaeology Program conducted a systematic archaeological survey from August 2016 to May 2017, the "Shotgun House Public Archaeology Project". Volunteers helped uncover features and a wealth of material culture related to multiple generations of these immigrant households, including an artifact-rich midden and cellar. Public outreach and education were key components for engaging the public with the past. Hands-on learning, site tours, fence talks, local news media, and Facebook posts have resulted in an outpouring of support from the economically, socially, and racially diverse neighborhood – a microcosm of the city as a whole.
Cite this Record
Coopers, Peddlers, and Bricklayers: Stories of a Working-Class Property through Public Archaeology in Washington, DC. L. Chardé Reid, Julianna Jackson, John M Hyche, Lyle Torp, Charles H Leedecker. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, New Orleans, Louisiana. 2018 ( tDAR id: 441725)
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Keywords
General
19th Century
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community archaeology
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District of Columbia
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German Diaspora
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Immigrants
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Public Archaeology
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Public Outreach
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Urban Archaeology
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Washington DC
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Working-class
Geographic Keywords
North America
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United States of America
Temporal Keywords
19th and 20th Century
Spatial Coverage
min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;
Individual & Institutional Roles
Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology
Record Identifiers
PaperId(s): 974