RESEARCH ARTICLES

As the Great War came to a close, Margaret would surely have empathized with the lost generation of young people who had experienced the destruction of the world as it had been known up to that point. She had worked diligently with the American Committee for Devastated France helping wounded French and American soldiers to…

For many years, women across this country fought hard for the right to vote.  Women such as Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, Alice Paul, Helen Ring Robinson, Jeannette Rankin  and our very own Margaret Brown became active in this cause. In 1896 Margaret and J.J. Brown attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. During this time Margaret’s political views…

In this fast-paced century where many things compete for our attention and time, institutions must listen to outside voices so as to not lose potential relevance and worth – it is time for museums to listen! Fifteen institutions came together to do just that, to listen, and formed the Denver-Area Cultural Evaluation Network (DEN). Led by the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS), these institutions are listening to those outside voices through evaluation at museums. The group emerged in 2010 when DMNS sought out local professionals who were in charge of evaluation efforts at their museum, but were looking for training and to form a network of colleagues. DEN benefits from the already existing evaluation department at DMNS and collective experiences of all members. It has become a valuable source for professional development for cultural institutions in the area….

Today, June 2nd, the Museum opened a new exhibit titled “A Call to Arms”.  It takes a look at efforts of American women, including Margaret Brown, during World War I both here in the United States and overseas.  Once the United States entered the war in 1917, many more women headed overseas to help with the war effort.  These women worked as nurses, bandage rollers, ambulance drivers, and even as fundraisers for soldiers. While many women are featured in the education space of the exhibit, below are four extraordinary women who gave of their time to assist in the war effort. Dorothy Canfield Fisher During World War I: She went to France with her husband in 1916 and while she was raising two young children, she worked to establish a Braille press for blinded veterans.  She also started a convalescent home for…

Volunteers are the backbone of any museum, especially here at the Molly Brown House Museum.  Without them, we couldn’t do some of the amazing programming we offer here, including our Victorian Eating Experiences (VEE).  These range from our popular Holiday High Teas to Titanic Dinners to Mother’s Day Teas.  Many volunteers help us out with…

It was no secret that Margaret Brown loved France, especially Paris.  By 1903, Margaret was fluent in French; she spent a lot of time visiting there and even had an apartment within the city for a time.    While we know that she spent a lot of time in Paris, at what time of the year is unknown.  With her love of the city, however, she may have been witness to some amazing Christmas traditions which take over Paris. Champs Elysees-Marche de Noël The city of Paris is taken over by twinkling lights, Christmas markets, and children looking for Pére Noël.  When Noël arrives in Paris, the whole city delights in the merrymaking of the season.  Signs that Noël will start to soon arrive starts around December 6th with the Feast of Saint Nicholas.  Noël itself is a celebration of children,…

For this month’s blog post, part 2, we have decided to highlight two more of our docents who truly bring the story of Margaret Brown to life. These docents have been with us for over 20 years combined. Meet Annie: 1.How long have you been a docent? I can’t remember!!  Think it has been about…

For this month’s blog post, we have decided to highlight a few of our docents who truly bring the story of Margaret Brown to life.  These docents have been with us for over 20 years combined. Meet Phill: Phill and his wife Sue 1. How long have you been a docent? Sometime in February 2003, my wife Sue noticed an ad in the paper that said, “Molly Needs a Hand.”  The Molly Brown House Museum (MBHM) was going to have two “information sessions” on how to become a volunteer on February 25th at 2 and 7 pm.  Sue said that I should give them a call and check it out.  The ad also stated that they were going to “serve refreshments,” so of course I had to call and schedule the 7 pm session.  While I was there I met Mary…

When the Brown family discovered their fortune from the Little Johnny gold mine in Leadville, Colorado, they celebrated their newfound wealth by taking a trip around the United States. On their vacation, they stopped in Chicago to enjoy the Columbian Exposition of 1893.[1] The Exposition, also known as the World’s Fair, celebrated the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus. The Fair highlighted American progress and cultural diversity. Booths represented Celtic, Arabian, Asian, African cultures, and several others. Margaret was captivated by this display of culture, and it inspired her to set up her Carnival of Nations fundraiser in a similar fashion.[2] The Exposition also featured an expansive building specifically created and designed to display accomplishments of women from across the world. A Board of Lady Managers was organized to determine how women would be represented at the fair….

This summer, the Molly Brown House Museum will be presenting a much awaited for exhibit that takes an in-depth look at how the myth of Molly Brown was created. So much of what we think we know about Margaret Brown comes from the larger-than-life stories that were created after her death. Those stories in turn…

Irish immigrants came to the United States in droves during the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852) seeking a better life. Once they reached America however, they were met with discrimination and back breaking labor. Faced with the challenges of discrimination, the Irish fought hard to work their way up the socioeconomic ladder in America. The first-generation of immigrants did their utmost to pave a path to a better future for their children. Their efforts made it possible for second and third generation Irish to obtain positions that once had often been out of reach. Many Irishman helped lay down tracks for the growing railroad industry and built roads and ditches for the growing infrastructure of the United States. Margaret Tobin Brown’s own father, an Irish immigrant, was a ditch digger. The booming mining business brought many Irish to Colorado in the…

Denver is a storied place. Beginning with the Native Americans to the Gold Rush to modern times, Denver’s history is explored in the newly published third and fourth grade book, Discovering Denver: Brick by Brick. The idea for Discovering Denver: Brick by Brick was first brought to Historic Denver Inc. and the Molly Brown House Museum’s attention by our local school teachers. There was a need for a school aged history on Denver. Historic Denver Inc. was then granted money from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Peter Grant Preservation Fund for Colorado and by a State Historical Fund grant from Colorado Historical Society. The publication, found online at https://mollybrown.org/teacher-resources/, is a 52 page book telling Denver’s history using our historic fabric. Whether you are young or old, Denverite or newcomer, you can enjoy the tale of Denver with Natty…