Infinitely Obscure Lives: Invisibility of Women in a U.S. Historic Site

Photo: Unlabeled In this image a crowd of men are the only present during a court. This symbolizes an inequality between both men and females. A difference that has always existed leading to the female gender to be seen as the weakest. Jury trials at this time were of great importance, but the fact that only man are present to give their opinion. That displays a powerful message. Is a women's opinion less valuable than that of a male? Even today, we hardly ever see women involved in political positions, or in important platforms. Society calls for a change. Just like the women at this time, women today deserve to have equal opportunities as man, to show what they are capable even if that means sharing a simple opinion at trial.  Exhibit Detail: Music Class This image caught my attention, for it was one of the only pictures with women present, in fact, the only picture with all women. However, the description states that most, if not all, of these women are de...

Exhibit Detail: U.S. Marshal Thomas Boles and His Wife The women in this photo is unnamed, the only thing we know about her is that she married Thomas Boles. He was a U.S. Marshall for Fort Smith between 1882 and 1885. While we have a brief description of Mr. Boles, nothing was stated about his wife. She was only mentioned in the caption, and not well. I would assume that any records that contained her name were lost or damaged. Exhibit Detail: Pearl Starr Pearl Starr is pictured at the site with a brief description of her family and the reasons for her notoriety. As one of few women named, she is the daughter of an outlaw named Belle Starr. Her mother, like Pearl is photographed and displayed in the National Historic Site. These women are remembered because of the crimes they committed. Unlike many women of the time, they are remembered and represented in the museum. However, Pearl's fame did not extend to her associates. Two women are pictured next to her, but we ...

Exhibit: Domestic Life at Fort Smith When observing the exhibits at the National Historic Site, they show how most of the political establishments and arrangements where created by men with little involvement from women. The exhibits in regards to politics where mostly pictures and summaries of men, with a very few exceptions like Florence Hammersly being a deputy clerk. When it comes to the focus of women in the exhibits, I feel like it was mainly based of domestication. A good example of this is the exhibit "Domestic Life at Fort Smith", where it focuses on the lives of the wife's of political leaders in Fort Smith. Exhibit:  Music Class I think this photo is relevant to the idea of women being seen in more of a domesticated role during this time. In my opinion, this photo of Chickasaw girls at Bloomfield Academy in a music class shows how women were even educated in more domesticated roles like the arts, instead of politics. Exhibit:  Women...