Mrs. Loewer surveys her domain |
During 1949 and 1950, the Old State House underwent extensive restoration. Little money was allotted to actually run the museum, however, and Agnes Loewer faced a daunting task when she took charge of the museum in 1951.
"We had an empty building on our hands and an uncharted course ahead," Leower recalled to a local reporter. "But we knew the furnishings we needed were in the possession of Arkansas families, and we believed there would be enough civic-minded citizens and organizations to make them all available."
Mrs. Loewer particularly counted on the patriotic women's organizations, which had been her allies in the fight to save the building. In the back of everyone's mind was the fear that the state might backslide and house wayward state agencies at the Old State House to save some money. The various women's organizations rushed to furnish rooms as a way of establishing residence.
"Only a portion of the building has been furnished as it was originally, the rest being furnished as living rooms of various periods of history," acknowledged Mrs. Loewer's 1951 tour script. The trend of installing period rooms reflecting American decorative arts began in the early 20th century and remained popular through the middle of the century. Mrs. Loewer was following a national trend by placing domestic furnishings in a non-domestic building.
"By way of introduction to the East Wing, you will now see living rooms representing various periods in our history. They have been furnished by organizations instrumental in preserving this building...It was largely through the efforts of these groups that building was restored and is now a museum, and they have furnished the Period Rooms for our enjoyment and information."
Items in the "Span-Am" Room in the 1960s |
Arkansas Democrat columnist Karr Shannon was somewhat less charitable to the Period Rooms when he reviewed the Old State House on October 2, 1952:
"In some rooms where no authentic furnishings have been found to fit the official purpose, or even a facsimile thereof, there are ornamentations of antique furniture, some of them priceless, placed there by various historical societies at no cost to the state. Although some of the items have no more connection with restoration than an electric refrigerator in an Eskimo's igloo, they have historical significance and engage the interest of many observers."
Over the years, there has been much debate about the appropriateness of the Period Rooms and even more as to whether they accurately represent Arkansas interiors of the periods they claim. After 50 years, however, these galleries have become antiques in their own right. The Old State House Museum presents them to the public today as examples of some of the very first exhibits presented at this fledgling museum more than a half century ago. Some might argue that they are not the sorts of exhibits that museum professionals would create today. It is worth remembering, however, that the Old State House and countless historic sites like it were not rescued by museum professionals, but by the sort of dedicated amateurs represented by these Period Rooms. The Old State House Museum gratefully salutes them.
Next: Take a Tour of the Period Rooms »
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