Design

 

A sampler of event posters for various historical sites, designed by your friendly neighborhood Doctor. The final printed versions of each of these is 11"x17" or 8.5"x11". Click on image to enlarge.


At the 2008 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference in Jackson, the poster for Historic Mansker's Station's 2007 Colonial Fair won a "Commendation for Superlative Achievement." The poster was, in their words, "instrumental in the overall look, theme, and feel of Colonial Fair." 

More Dancing

More dancing at the Jane Austen Ball, Lucy and I are again on the far right.

Jane Austen Festival Wrapup

Sunday brought much of the same as Saturday. Fencing in the morning, style show at midday, medical demonstrations throughout... as well as the near intolerable heat.

I will include a series of inserts in my journal that will offer additional images and information from the weekend's activities.

The images of Jim & Kathy Cummings, which includes a very unusual image of myself in the Style show, as well as myself and Mr. Cushing taking our fencing exercise.

Images from the local Louisville Newspaper featuring several excellent portraits of people I know.

Jane Austen Festival Part 3

I cleaned up and got ready for the ball to be held that evening, and Miss Graham fixed Lucy's hair so as to make her more presentable.

A few hours before the ball, I was approached by Mrs. Wise and her daughter, Mrs. Wise held something in her gloved hand.

"Doctor? Doctor!" she called out to get my attention as she approached.

She handed me a small packet. It was two letters tied together in a little bundle, "These arrived for you on Monday."

I thanked her and she went on her way. I immediately recognized the handwriting... one letter was addressed to me, another to a young woman of my acquaintance employed by the estate of Mr. John Overton in Tennessee. I tucked her letter into my waistcoat pocket so as to deliver it to her at the Ball that night.

My letter from Mr. S. Merritt (click to enlarge)

I believe that perhaps Mr. Merritt had caught wind of my duel with Mr. Hazuga at Corydon over a matter of money owed me for service rendered. This may have motivated him to write the letter for fear he might get the same treatment.

Lucy listening from instructions from the dancemaster.

That night at the Ball, everyone was out in their finest. The music from the stage was excellent, and the refreshments were good and beautifully arranged. In my mourning state, it is hardly appropriate for me to attend dances or balls, but I was there in my capacity as Lucy's father, and only danced a few times, and ONLY with my Lucy (as she was in want of a partner on a few occasions).

Lucy in the line next to the rakish Mssr. LaFaux.

Misses Holmes and Shipsey attended by Mrs. Staggs.

You may spot Lucy and myself on the far right at about 2:30.

I occupied myself in the drinking of punch and gossip with Mrs, Staggs and her two young charges, Miss Holmes and Shipsey, whom Lucy had befriended.

When the night was over, Lucy had an invitation to spend the night with Mrs. Staggs and her charges, leaving me to return alone to Locust Grove, where I found several of the gentlemen drinking in the kitchen, including Mr. Cushing.

We talked until well after midnight, then decided that, due to the heat, we would sleep on the back porch of the house.

I gathered my blankets and pillow and made a spot that would be comfortable. I slept well there in my little make shift bed, not rising until the sun had begun to do so the next morning.

...to be continued.

Jane Austen Festival Part 2

The duel at half past two drew a great crowd of onlookers to the Village Green.

I bid the growing throng to not come too close for fear of being struck by a glancing shot.

Mr. Cushing, Mr. Minnis' second, loads the pistol.

Several shots were exchanged, until finally, Mr. Minnis was struck and downed. I attended him, as was my duty. Mr. Minnis shortly thereafter, succumbed to the fatal wound.

Mr. Minnis' final moments.

By three o'clock I was back in the office to give more talks about the medical profession, but as the hour wore on, I could hear the gentlemen beginning to assemble next door in the Hellfire Club. As I was engaged until four that afternoon, I took several opportunities to poke my head in the window and remind the fellows not to drink up all the beer and rum before I could arrive to sample it.

My view through the back window.

When four o'clock finally arrived, I locked up the door to the office and went around to the entrance of the Hellfire Club to find it well underway. The gents were assembled around a large table, drinking, smoking and playing cards. There was a good deal of mirth and camaraderie to be had that afternoon.

The view from inside the Hellfire Club, mine is the empty chair and the unattended hand.

I cleaned up and got ready for the ball to be held that evening, and Miss Graham fixed Lucy's hair so as to make her more presentable.

...to be continued.

Jane Austen Festival

Upon the most recent weekend, Lucy and I travelled Northward to the estate of Locust Grove, home of William and Lucy Clark Croghan. The Croghan's played host to a great festivity, tented shops upon the grounds, and a large central tent that held a style show and a number of speakers as well.

Lucy and I were installed in the middle of the long stone out building, a large fine room that suited our purpose well. Mockingbirds had built a nest in the chimney of the office some time back and when we unlocked the door for the first time, two of the babies had jumped the nest and landed in the brick floor. They were quite upset about the whole thing.

They were covered in feathers and I think they were ready to leave the nest, which was how they came to find themselves on the brick floor. But they were all locked up in the room and couldn't get out. Lucy and I caught them and put them outside under an obliging tree.

I took my fencing practice in the morning at 10:30 with mr. Cushing. He is a younger fellow and quite vigourous. As I have not fenced since my days in the Royal Navy, I found it quite a task to fend off his attacks and advances. We stopped our exercise and took great cups of water several times due to the heat.

Afterward, I unlocked the office and gave several demonstrations to the assembled visitors to the Croghan estate.

At noon, Lucy and I took tea with a lovely pair of sisters, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Johnson.

At one of the clock in the afternoon I went to the garden and took my place in the queue for the style show for the benefit of the Croghan's guests.

Later, I was out with my cages and found a fantastic beetle on the back of a woman's dress, it was large and wounded. It was a winged thing, gold and green, but its wings browned and damaged.

It was a Phyllophaga, a genus of beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae of the family Scarabaeidae... Cotinis nitida, locally known as a 'June Bug'. The front lawn was swarming with them. They circled low to the ground.

I took him in my hand and continued my walk.

As I stood showing him off in a group of ladies and gents, my hand extended, five more examples of the very same beetle flew right into my waiting hand as if to come and rescue their friend!

Lucy, at 2 in the afternoon on Saturday, went to her dance lesson with Captain and Mrs. May, which was just as well, as I had been asked to be the attending physician at a pistol duel on the Village Green at half past two the very same afternoon.

Two fellows had been gambling at Wist in the kitchen that morning, and there were words exchanged over a matter of cheating.

...to be continued

Letter writing of late

CONTINUE my recovery from the wound in the knee received at the siege. While I am rubbish at doing anything that involves a great deal of standing as of yet, all the sitting has given me an opportunity to catch up on my correspondence. My writing has been accompanied by Molly's pianoforte lessons. I have heard the same three songs bang'd out so many times, I daresay I could play them myself whilst I slept.

The following is a letter written to the young fellow at Locust Grove:

Mr. Cushing,

It was a pleasure to finally get to speak with you in the Hellfire Club on Saturday last. I believe that I have found the means with which to procure a proper waistcoat for myself, but did want to inquire once again as to the origins of your fine black wool jacket, ruffled shirt and trousers. I would be very grateful if you would pass along the names of those that I might contact to have similar garments made for myself.

Lizzie and I greatly enjoyed the talk you gave about men's clothing, it was informative and just the right length. I would venture to call it my favorite talk of the day were it not for the copious number of attractive young ladies in the style show. I think that I would have to rank your speech a close second to them.

I understand from Captain Martin, the fellow in the red coat and unsightly mustache, that I missed a greater gathering at the Hellfire Club Saturday afternoon. When I saw he and his wife at their four o'clock tea, he informed me that a number of gentlemen had gathered to drink and read some rather ribald poetry. I must confess, I am sorry to have missed it.

Know also that I would be very interested in a position in the unit you discussed as Physician. I have excellent references and all my own instruments, everything I would require to perform the tasks of unit surgeon. You may find my references, as well as my journal, here:

http://manskerman1780.blogspot.com/

I look forward to hearing from you in this regard. Until then, I most sincerely wish you all health and success; and am, with great respect,

Your most humble & obt. servant, etc etc...


My second letter was addressed to Mrs. Kish, the mother to young John. I was able to locate them through a mutual aquaintence, Ms. Davis, at the Van Cortlandt House.

My dear Mrs. Kish,

I am writing in regards to your son John, the brave young Grenadier whom I operated on during the Siege at fort Niagara. Being the surgeon that removed the prodigious splinter from your son's eye, I felt it my duty to inquire as to his health and well being. I was able to implore him to hold still enough to allow me to carefully remove it, once it was out, he insisted I allow him to keep it. After examination of the eye, I believe that his sight will eventually return to normal, he was very fortunate and brave. Your son repaid the favour when he aided as a surgeon's mate the next day when I was wounded upon the field.

I hope that you and your family are well. Please feel free to pass this letter along to your son, as I am certain he will be interested to see some of the attached images. My dear Lucy has done nothing but talk about John since we left the Niagara area, she being quite taken with him and very aggrieved by the great difference in their ages. 

http://wayne861.smugmug.com/keyword/surgeon

As well as the images and entries in my journal at:

http://manskerman1780.blogspot.com/

I most sincerely wish you all health and success; and am, with great respect,

Your most affectionate & obt. servant,
Albert Roberts

N.B. Whenever your leisure will permit, it will always give me the greatest pleasure to be informed of your welfare.

Mrs. Kish checks on her wounded son John, as my Lucy looks after her favorite patient.

You may, gentle reader, have also found the kind note I receieved in regards to one of the men I operated on during the siege. It was posted here in my journal:

Dear Sir,


I am most obliged to you for your services in removing the bullet from my husband's shoulder. He is healing quite nicely, and I am pulling out the linen strip as you instructed. Likewise, the bullet graze on his head has also healed quite well. I am most appreciative of your services.



Your servant,

Mrs. Hanson of Beall's Regiment, Maryland Forces

Mrs. Hanson, center, comforts her husband.

I have but one letter yet to finish, to the wife of my friend Capt. Jack Johnson, late of the area around Fort Pitt. Capt. Johnson is the man in charge of the fair to be held this present year at Schoenbrunn Village.

Dear madam,

As regimental surgeon it gives me great concern to relay to you the events of Febry. 16th. of this present year. Your husband, Capt. J. Johnson, was commanding a forage party out of Fort Pitt and were returning when they were set upon by a large band of French allied indians. Nine men were killed or wounded, including your husband.

Capt. Johnson was quite fortunate in that the musket ball did not strike the bone. Amputation was not required, but I am afear'd that he will be left with a rather noticeable limp that may preclude him from further military service. He is healing well and is being sent home upon my orders to convalesce. your husband will need to stay off of the leg in order for it to heal properly, I strongly recommend a fortnight.

Please give the Captain my most humble thanks for his service to the King, and know that I most sincerely wish you and the Captain all health and success; and am, with great respect,

Your most humble & obt. servant,
ETC ETC...

LOCUST GROVE Jane Austen Festival

Photos courtesy of E.J. Llewellyn

Lizzie and I traveled Northward to Locust Grove (on the Ohio) for the occassion of the 2nd annual Jane Austen Festival held there this past weekend. There were talks given and things to see, it was alot of fun.

I'm afraid that the Doctor was unable to attend, as I suppose he might have looked a bit like a relic from a bygone era in his colonial clothing and wig.

I can scarcely imagine the Doctor as being 'out of fashion', but compared to the stylish Mr. Cushing here, you can see quite the difference.

Some of the young ladies that took part in the afternoon Regency Style Show.

Please make note of the gaggle of young women just behind and to the right of this young lady as they examine the back of her dress.

Additional images may be viewed via mrs. Cummings.