Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Her Life and Times
North Lobby
Charlotte Perkins Gilman's life spanned from 1860 to 1935. As a noted figure in the Progressive Movement, Gilman worked for gender equality and suffrage. This exhibit highlights the societal changes she lived through and helped bring about. Stacey Knight-Davis, curator
Charlotte Perkins Gilman's life spanned from 1860 to 1935. As a noted figure in the Progressive Movement, Gilman worked for gender equality and suffrage. This exhibit highlights the societal changes she lived through and helped bring about. Stacey Knight-Davis, curator
The 'Rest Cure' in Perspective
North Lobby
Views on depression, and how to treat it, have changed dramatically over time. The history of the "rest cure" during the publication of The Yellow Wall-Paper is explored in the context of the treatments that came before and after it. Stacey Knight-Davis, curator
Views on depression, and how to treat it, have changed dramatically over time. The history of the "rest cure" during the publication of The Yellow Wall-Paper is explored in the context of the treatments that came before and after it. Stacey Knight-Davis, curator
The Dynamic Reading Life of Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Marvin Foyer
Reading was an integral part of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's life. She routinely recorded the titles of the books she was reading in her diaries and correspondence letters. These books reflected her beliefs, her research and her interests. Subsequently, they highlight facets of her personality and inward struggles, as well as reveal familial and social influences on her reading. The books Gilman chose stand as a colorful representation of "woman" in the late 19th century, and encompass an array of beliefs across the spectrum with which Gilman struggled, denounced or championed her entire life. Lee Whitacre, curator
Reading was an integral part of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's life. She routinely recorded the titles of the books she was reading in her diaries and correspondence letters. These books reflected her beliefs, her research and her interests. Subsequently, they highlight facets of her personality and inward struggles, as well as reveal familial and social influences on her reading. The books Gilman chose stand as a colorful representation of "woman" in the late 19th century, and encompass an array of beliefs across the spectrum with which Gilman struggled, denounced or championed her entire life. Lee Whitacre, curator
Ink of Truth: A Personal Journey
Marvin Foyer
Dr. S. Weir Mitchell prescribed the "rest cure" to Charlotte Perkins Gilman to improve her mental health, and as part of the program she was told to abstain from writing in her journal. This exhibit features female authors who recorded their experiences with mental illness and later wrote their memoirs based on many years of diary or journal entries. Johna Von Behrens, curator
Dr. S. Weir Mitchell prescribed the "rest cure" to Charlotte Perkins Gilman to improve her mental health, and as part of the program she was told to abstain from writing in her journal. This exhibit features female authors who recorded their experiences with mental illness and later wrote their memoirs based on many years of diary or journal entries. Johna Von Behrens, curator
The Works of Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Marvin Foyer
Though perhaps best known for her semi-autobiographical short story, The Yellow Wall-Paper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote short stories, novels, non-fiction, poetry and created her own magazine, The Forerunner. This exhibit provides an overview of Gilman's prolific literary career. Janice Derr, curator
Though perhaps best known for her semi-autobiographical short story, The Yellow Wall-Paper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote short stories, novels, non-fiction, poetry and created her own magazine, The Forerunner. This exhibit provides an overview of Gilman's prolific literary career. Janice Derr, curator
Wallpaper Mania
Marvin Foyer
Presenting selected examples of period wallpaper based on the descriptions of the narrator in Gilman's story, this exhibit explores the design and domestic role of wallpaper in the late 19th century, with a multidisciplinary inquiry into the physiological and psychological effects of visual stimuli such as color and pattern. Ellen Corrigan, curator
Presenting selected examples of period wallpaper based on the descriptions of the narrator in Gilman's story, this exhibit explores the design and domestic role of wallpaper in the late 19th century, with a multidisciplinary inquiry into the physiological and psychological effects of visual stimuli such as color and pattern. Ellen Corrigan, curator
Bed Rest: The Modern Legacy of 'The Rest Cure'
Marvin Foyer
Although there is little clinical evidence to support it, bed rest is commonly prescribed for many complications of pregnancy. This poster summarizes recent research on the relationship between bed rest and negative quality of life. Stacey Knight-Davis, curator
Although there is little clinical evidence to support it, bed rest is commonly prescribed for many complications of pregnancy. This poster summarizes recent research on the relationship between bed rest and negative quality of life. Stacey Knight-Davis, curator
The Road to Equality
Reference Hallway
The "rest cure" was based on the idea that women were weaker and more limited in their abilities than men. Charlotte Perkins Gilman fought against this idea and became an important figure in the women’s movement. This exhibit highlights key moments in the struggle for women’s equality, including voting rights, equal pay for equal work and health care. Key resources from Booth Library’s collections on gender equality also are featured. Janice Derr, curator
The "rest cure" was based on the idea that women were weaker and more limited in their abilities than men. Charlotte Perkins Gilman fought against this idea and became an important figure in the women’s movement. This exhibit highlights key moments in the struggle for women’s equality, including voting rights, equal pay for equal work and health care. Key resources from Booth Library’s collections on gender equality also are featured. Janice Derr, curator
The Big Room with that Horrid Paper
Atrium
A corner of the room described in The Yellow Wall-Paper is recreated in the Atrium. Visitors are invited to step inside and experience being surrounded by the pattern. Johna Von Behrens and Stacey Knight-Davis, curators
A corner of the room described in The Yellow Wall-Paper is recreated in the Atrium. Visitors are invited to step inside and experience being surrounded by the pattern. Johna Von Behrens and Stacey Knight-Davis, curators
Through a Critical Lens
South Lobby
From Gilman's own response to the story written in 1913 to essays written nearly 100 years later, this exhibit explores different critical interpretations of The Yellow Wall-Paper. Lee Whitacre and Stacey Knight-Davis, curators
From Gilman's own response to the story written in 1913 to essays written nearly 100 years later, this exhibit explores different critical interpretations of The Yellow Wall-Paper. Lee Whitacre and Stacey Knight-Davis, curators
