Bridging Worlds and Changing Perceptions:

"We use objects to make meaning, to make or re-make ourselves, to organize our anxieties and affections, to sublimate our fears and shape our fantasies" (4). This quote comes from Bill Brown's book, A Sense of Things: The Object Matter of American Literature. It struck me when I first read it.

I have always been a collector of things, from coins to old stamps to other memorabilia. To me, these objects carried meaning beyond their physical presence. They were stories, memories, and reminders.

The more I thought about subject-object engagement, the more interested I became in other people's experiences. This interest was the genesis of this project.

In the spirit of literature, I turned to one of my favorite classic stories, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. At the center of the acclaimed novel is Orchard House, the beloved home of the Alcotts. The property, designated as a National Historic Landmark, is now a museum filled with original objects that belonged to the family.

The ultimate purpose of this project was to understand how visitors perceived the objects around them after they engaged with the physical space of Orchard House and its artifacts. Would they make connections with certain objects? Would the objects carry meaning beyond their physical presence? I soon found myself on a plane heading to Concord, Massachusetts to conduct my research.

Before heading out to Concord, Massachusetts, I created both a physical survey and an online version aimed at understanding visitors' interactions with the Orchard House and its objects.

Before visitors go on the tour of the Orchard House, they first visit the Concord School of Philosophy and watch a brief informational video about the Alcott family, the Orchard House property, and the inspirations behind Little Women. The Concord School of Philosophy, which was founded by Amos Bronson Alcott in 1879, was one of the first adult summer schools in the United States. It was the hub of Transcendentalism, with great literary figures such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson in attendance.

I greeted the visitors at the Concord School of Philosophy, where I handed out my surveys. The visitors would go on a tour of Orchard House and take the survey at the end. Inside Orchard House, we placed a basket for visitors to drop off their completed surveys in May Alcott's art studio, where the tour would typically end.

I spent three days at Orchard House collecting survey responses, doing additional research on objects within the house for their personal collection, and helping out with the start of the tour at the Concord School of Philosophy.

To analyze the data from the surveys, I used Excel and conducted a thematic analysis.

I generated initial codes and then grouped responses into themes. After identifying and grouping responses, I revised and condensed the themes. After three days at Orchard House, I was able to collect a total of 65 responses with 47 that were viable for analysis.

One survey question in particular got at the heart of my research. Visitors were asked if any objects in the house stood out to them in particular, and if they did, which objects and why.

From the analysis, 4 major themes emerged:

1. Personal Connection - Visitors made personal connections with the objects in the house, which made the objects stand out to them.
2. Originality - Items stood out to visitors because they were preserved/original.
3. Stories Come to Life - Objects stood out because of the stories behind them. Some objects made the stories seem "real," and visitors could imagine the family living in the house.
4. Discovery and Admiration - Items stood out due to an item's attributes, often leading to expressions of surprise, admiration, and realizations about the family. •

Personal Connection:

Many visitors pointed to their love of art and quilting, which resonated with them when they saw the handmade quilts and May Alcott's paintings all over the house. One visitor noted that they also let their kids paint on the walls of the house, just like the Alcotts, which is why the paintings stood out the most. Another visitor noted that they are an aspiring writer, so Louisa's writing desk stood out because they "found kinship in her craft."

The personal connection category could best be summarized by this one response:

"My grandmother inspired my love for "Little Women" and I was thinking about how much she would have loved seeing Orchard House. In the parlor (I think) was a brown horsehair settee or sofa. My grandmother had one just like it in gold. It belonged to her mother and my grandmother felt closer by seeing that semi-familiar piece of furniture in the same style. "

Many visitors found similarities between their interests and lives with those of the Alcott family. They pointed to specific objects that reminded them of themselves. In total, 14 responses were coded under the "Personal Connections" category.

Originality:

Visitors were drawn to the originality of certain objects in the house. Many pointed to an object's "authenticity" and "preservation" as points of fascination. Many of May Alcott's sketches on the walls and woodwork were preserved, drawing attention from visitors.

In total, 13 responses were coded under the "Originality" category.

Stories Come to Life:

Many objects stood out to visitors because of the stories attached to them. Several visitors noted that the objects made the stories come to life.

"I can see Marmee and the little women gathering around the table hand quilting the pieces and conversing in merriment."

"I imagined the four sisters peering through [the windows] for any visitor or action that might be going on in front of the house."

"Louisa's pen. Very amazing to see 'The' pen the book was written with."

"The paintings and sketches on the wall. They give a window into what the family's daily lives were like."

The objects were seen as extensions of the family. They held deeper meaning because of the stories attached to them. For example, the china set in the room was no longer just a china set. For one visitor, it symbolized "the extent of Louisa’s success and her ability to pay off the family debts and establish a comfortable home for all of them."

In total, 15 responses were coded under the "Stories Come to Life" category.

Discovery and Admiration:

Visitors were also drawn to objects because of their aesthetic appeal. Many used adjectives such as "beautiful" to describe why a particular object stood out to them. Along with the aesthetic appeal, many visitors expressed a sense of appreciation and admiration for the family after seeing particular objects.

"The kitchen - the beautiful china, the original furniture - seeing the beauty of it up close, all of Louisa’s books in the library, the beautiful garden outside - everything in the house was perfect."

"I really enjoyed seeing all of May’s original artwork, which made me appreciate how talented she was. I also thought the costumes were fun to see. It was also surreal to see the desk where Louisa wrote the book."

In total, 14 responses were coded under the "Discovery and Admiration" category.

Stories powered perception. Through my analysis, it became evident that the narratives shared with visitors about the Alcott family shaped both their choice of objects and how they perceived them. However, not everyone made those connections in the same way. Some connected with the objects based on their personal experiences, while others were drawn to the visual aspects of the objects.

Before I did this study, I assumed that there would be more people making personal connections to the objects. However, a large number of responses connected the stories that they were told about the family to the objects themselves, showing the power that stories have in shifting our focus and perspective.

Visiting Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts meant so much to me. I remember falling in love with the story of Little Women. It reminded me of my love of writing. To stand in the house that Louisa May Alcott and her family called home was surreal. What made the experience even better was the genuine care and support that I had from everyone at the Orchard House.

A big thank you to Lis Adams, Director of Education at Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House, for her support throughout this process. I also want to thank everyone - the staff and volunteers - at Orchard House who made my stay so welcoming. Thank you to my advisor, Re Evitt, for her encouragement throughout the application process. Finally, thank you to the Keller Family Foundation for funding this research project through the Venture Grant. This would not have been possible without their support.