SILVER & SPINDLES

Through the dive into dining culture at Lippitt House Museum in the #TasteofProvidence series, it becomes clear that the customs and traditions surrounding food contribute to a sense of community. When I first began exploring the topic of dining culture, I imagined it would stay within the walls of the museum itself, but the research soon showed me how ubiquitous many of the stories surrounding food were for Providence and the country as a whole. The way people adapt to what

The dining room of Lippitt House Museum is home to an array of art pieces, though none are quite as intriguing as The Chocolate Girl. This 19th century oil painting hangs above the grand dining room and depicts a servant carrying two cups, one with water and the other with hot chocolate. While it may seem like a curious choice of art piece, the presence of this painting in the Lippitt family dining room is reflective of the important and fascinating role chocolate played thr

Surrounded by the grandeur of Lippitt House’s dining room, it is easy to lose sight of some of the harsh realities of history. However, while the Lippitts may not have felt it as keenly as others in Rhode Island, difficult decisions about how and what to feed one’s family were unavoidable for many. In my research into dining culture at Lippitt House, I came across a series of recipes from World War I in the newspaper The Rhode Island Pendulum designed to avoid ingredients tha

During WWI, May Lippitt Steedman, daughter of Henry and Mary Ann, worked with the Providence Red Cross heading the knitting and garment workshops, the motor corps, and canteen. These supply support activities were in response to pressures from the intensifying war in Europe. An area of particular stress in the American supply chain was food. The strain on food sources was not simply caused by feeding U.S. soldiers, but also because of American relief efforts to address wides

Museum intern and guest blogger, introduces her series, "A Taste of Providence."

If you visited Lippitt House Museum in the summer of 2017, you would have experienced the special exhibition, “The Art of Dining: A Taste of Providence.” While touring the house, visitors learned about social customs associated with dining that were an important part of 19th century life — especially for upper-class families like the Lippitts. Today, thanks to the internet, we have made part of that exhibition available to you in a digital format, which we hope you will explo