The Aramanta Chronicles: The Life of Grandmother Fort

This timeline of Aramanta's life covers the highlights in national, state and local history including inventions she witnessed. She was born during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson and lived to see the Transcontinental Railway connecting America from coast to coast.

Come visit this exhibit seeing time march not only through one woman's life but across the United States as well.

The exhibit opens during Christmas on the Brazos 2007 and continues for regular tours Saturday and Sunday 2-5 p.m. in 2008
or call 254/753-5166 to schedule a special tour.

At Your Leisure: Styles of Free Time

Historic Waco Foundation was pleased to present an exhibit on the importance of leisure.

Leisure is freedom from time-consuming duties and responsibilities, but as early as Aristotle's time leisure was considered an earned commodity.

"We are 'unleisurley' in order to have leisure" - Aristotle

With the Industrial Revolution the Victorian middle class grew, as did their leisure time and disposable income. What were some favorite Victorian pastimes?

Needle Arts

Since the dawn of human kind, people needed to sew. This skill, practiced at every level of society, slowly became an art in some circles.

It is well documented that Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII of England’s first queen, was a fine needlewoman, and brought the Spanish art of black work to England. She took great pride in making her husband’s shirts of the finest linen. Even when Henry put aside Katherine to marry Ann Boleyn he still sent linen to Katherine, which caused Ann great irritation for she considered herself a fine needlewoman as well.

By the Victorian era middle and upper class ladies used needlework as a pastime. They stitched and sewed alone or with others creating works of art for their wardrobes and homes.

Golf

Most people associate the origins of golf with Scotland. In fact, its beginnings are not well established, and are believed to be a blend of several similar games. The first ever golf course, St. Andrews, was established in Scotland in the 16 th century. In 1916, over three centuries later, Texas built its first public course located in San Antonio.

Men’s golf attire included shirts, sweaters, jackets and knickers in the 1920’s. Women did not have an official costume for golfing. However, tweed skirts with blouses and sweaters were popular.

Swimming

For centuries people have flocked to the sea for swimming and recreation as a favorite summer pastime. Female modesty prevented the enjoyment of sand and surf by modern standards. However, women enjoyed the water with the invention of the bathing machine. This machine was in essence a cabana on wheels that with the aid of a horse brought the women out into the ocean, providing ultimate privacy.

It was not until the 1920’s that women’s bathing suits became less restrictive and allowed modern swimming strokes. In this decade swimwear designers began using new fabrics and styles such as short skirts with lower necklines and exposed bare shoulders. Unfortunately, the first women to dare to bare and wear these suits were often arrested for indecent exposure.

Baseball

The title “father of baseball” is a topic of debate. Some claim Abner Doubleday invented it in 1839, while others look to Alexander Cartwright who established its original rules. Either way the game has shaped our idea of leisure time activity.

Civil War spread the game. As young men gathered they introduced the game to their brothers in arms. It was not only a favored pastime of soldiers, but also an essential morale booster.

As baseball evolved two major leagues were formed. The National League was founded in 1876, and the American League in 1901.

Reading

Prosperity fueled by the industrial revolution led to a growing middle class. As leisure time increased reading became more important. Sources of print media soared as mass-produced books, newspapers and magazines grew less expensive and the demand expanded.

Dickens and other novelists took advantage of this growing reading audience. Before the Victorian period, reading was primarily a habit of the wealthy. Lower classes had limited access to education, and little time to read.