Porcellian Porcelain and White Male Fragility: The Journey of a Privileged Plate

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Meanwhile, In the NPS Lab: Discoveries from the Collections" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Archeologists at Boston’s African Meeting House were surprised to discover an intact porcelain plate on the site’s surface. More shocking was the mark identifying the plate as coming from the exclusive Porcellian Club, one of the storied finals clubs of Harvard University. The club was founded in 1791 and boasts members from the wealthiest and most influential families, including a future president. The Porcellians, however, did not admit their first black member until 1983, over eighty years after the African Meeting House was closed and then converted to a synagogue. Female archeologists (who today still would not be admitted) have uncovered several compelling stories about the Porcellian Club and the Boston’s African-American community. How did this symbol of elitism, racism, and patriarchy wind up in the sacred meeting space of Boston’s black community? The poignant and timely stories that this single artifact brings to light may surprise you.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Meanwhile, In the NPS Lab: Discoveries from the Collections   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 608