The History and Material Culture of the Oneida Community, 1848-Present

This class will explore the history of the people who lived, worked and played at the Oneida Community Mansion House. Participants will not only learn about the religious and social principles of the Community, but how that ideology was brought to life through architecture, furniture, textiles, and other materials. The first session will be a lecture and hands-on activity dedicated to the beliefs of the Community. The second session will be an immersive field trip to the Mansion House that will feature an in-depth study of the museum collection and an architectural tour of this National Historic Landmark.

Presenter: Thomas A. Guiler is Director of Museum Affairs at the Oneida Community Mansion House. A scholar of intentional and utopian communities, Tom received his Ph.D. from Syracuse University in 2016 and taught for 5 years at the University of Delaware and Winterthur Program in American Material Culture. He researches and teaches 19th and 20th century American social and cultural history and has particular interests in social protest, material culture, and the digital and public humanities. He is currently working on a book, The Handcrafted Utopia: Arts and Crafts Communities in America’s Progressive Era.

If you would like to become a member or if you have questions about the status of your membership, please email llp@colgate.edu.

 All classes are live and in-person. We will not be recording sessions.

Click here for a full description of Upcoming Life Long Learning Schedule

(https://www.colgate.edu/community/lifelong-learning/course-schedule)