{"id":954,"date":"2023-02-28T00:48:15","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T00:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/?page_id=954"},"modified":"2023-03-07T01:04:55","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T01:04:55","slug":"convent-interpretation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/?page_id=954","title":{"rendered":"Convent Interpretation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-columns stk-block-columns stk-block stk-d5db3a3\" data-block-id=\"d5db3a3\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-content-align stk-d5db3a3-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-block-column--v3 stk-column stk-block-column--v2 stk-block stk-51b6e4d\" data-block-id=\"51b6e4d\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-51b6e4d-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-51b6e4d-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-columns stk-block-columns stk-block stk-b075ebd\" data-block-id=\"b075ebd\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-content-align stk-b075ebd-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-block-column--v3 stk-column stk-block-column--v2 stk-block stk-347c83a\" data-block-id=\"347c83a\"><style>.stk-347c83a-container{background-image:url(https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/kids1918-1.jpg) !important;background-attachment:fixed !important;background-position:top center !important;background-repeat:no-repeat !important;background-size:contain !important}.stk-347c83a-container:before{background-color:#000000 !important;opacity:0.5 !important}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-347c83a-container stk-hover-parent stk--has-background-overlay\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-347c83a-inner-blocks\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>Outhouse Interpretation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-columns stk-block-columns stk-block stk-fe1bbe6\" data-block-id=\"fe1bbe6\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-content-align stk-fe1bbe6-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-block-column--v3 stk-column stk-block-column--v2 stk-block stk-09cb4b7\" data-block-id=\"09cb4b7\"><style>@media screen and (min-width:690px){.stk-09cb4b7{flex:1 1 calc(19.4% - var(--stk-column-gap,0px) * 1 \/ 2 ) !important}}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-09cb4b7-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-09cb4b7-inner-blocks\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Outhou97.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"has-border-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color wp-image-1128\" style=\"border-width:3px;border-radius:10px\" width=\"183\" height=\"290\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color: var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">1902 calendar<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-block-column--v3 stk-column stk-block-column--v2 stk-block stk-36ec0c8\" data-block-id=\"36ec0c8\"><style>@media screen and (min-width:690px){.stk-36ec0c8{flex:1 1 calc(80.6% - var(--stk-column-gap,0px) * 1 \/ 2 ) !important}}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-36ec0c8-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-36ec0c8-inner-blocks\">\n<p class=\"has-palette-color-8-color has-text-color\"><strong>Although there is much more research that can be conducted, even with this minimal evaluation, it is clear that materials recovered from the privy vault have, and will continue to provide, more information about the daily life of the Immaculate Heart Academy than any historical documents that might be found.<br><br><span style=\"color: #222222;background-color: #f34957\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Age of Deposit<\/span><br><br>Artifacts and historical maps suggest the vault was in use for a period of about 20 years between 1887 and 1907. \u00a0The most obvious dating evidence recovered was a celluloid calendar from 1902 (A-434).<br><br>The items recovered have not only provided a look into the educational aspects of the school, but have also allowed an examination of turn-of-the-century medical practices, personal living habits, recreation, and institutional food production. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-palette-color-8-color has-text-color\"><strong><span style=\"color: #222222;background-color: #f34957\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Appearance and Hygiene<\/span><br><br>During this analysis we have learned that appearances were important. Button analysis suggests that the clothes of both students and nuns were plain, however they were washed regularly, shoes were polished, and hygiene was looked after. \u00a0It appears that most boarders had their own toothbrushes and combs, flea combs were used when needed, and perfumes and colognes helped keep things smelling good between baths. \u00a0Bracelets, hairpins, and other adornments were not common, with the exception of rosaries, religious necklaces and medallions. \u00a0<br><br>Living quarters were brightened up with fancy flower-filled vases and a pet bird.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-palette-color-8-color has-text-color\"><strong><span style=\"color: #222222;background-color: #f34957\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Toys and Play<\/span><br><br>Toys were almost exclusively female oriented, suggesting a clear separation between the Immaculate Heart Academy girl students and the students at the adjacent Boy\u2019s School. \u00a0Outdoor play areas were most likely located in the western part of the school property. \u00a0Rainy-day play likely took place in the dining hall. \u00a0Toys fell into two groups; \u201cpersonal-play\u201d items (e.g. dolls, harmonicas, etc.), and \u201cgroup-play\u201d items (e. g. jax, toy dishes, etc.).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-palette-color-8-color has-text-color\"><strong><span style=\"color: #222222;background-color: #f34957\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Food and Eating<\/span><br><br>The location and type of dishes discovered suggest that the nuns ate their meals on \u201cVictorian\u201d style dishes in the Chapel building, while the students ate meals on common stoneware dishes in the kitchen\/dining building. \u00a0Diet appeared to be made up of bulk canned foods and fruits, as well as fresh fruits and garden vegetables (squash, peaches, cherries, corn on the cob), meat, chicken, fish, and shellfish (most likely clam chowder). \u00a0It appears that all cooking took place at the school.<br><br><span style=\"color: #222222;background-color: #f34957\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Chinese Interaction and Male Employees<\/span><br><br>There was evidence of interaction with the Chinese community that lived two blocks east of the school. \u00a0A Chinese shipping jar had been converted into a planter. \u00a0In addition, pieces of Chinese rice bowls, condiment dishes, food and liquor jars, and a medicine vial were found in Unit A. \u00a0It is possible that laundry or cooking activities were performed by a Chinese employee.<br><br>Male oriented items were discovered suggesting that the school hired a male cook or handyman that operated out of the kitchen\/laundry building.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-palette-color-8-color has-text-color\"><strong><span style=\"color: #222222;background-color: #f34957\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Education<\/span><br><br>Writing implements dominated the teaching items recovered. \u00a0These materials fell into three major categories that most likely correspond with three levels of education.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-text-color wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The elementary writing implement was the slate board and slate writer. \u00a0These <\/strong><strong>were likely used by the students in elementary classes as an inexpensive, <\/strong><strong>reusable tool for learning to read and write.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The second level would have been pencils. \u00a0Many were discovered, both with <\/strong><strong>and without erasers. \u00a0Most pencils appeared to have been hand sharpened and <\/strong><strong>were not discarded until the point had been sharpened to the bitter end of the <\/strong><strong>pencil. \u00a0It is likely that pencils were used by more advanced students to create <\/strong><strong>a more permanent written record.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The third level\u00a0<\/strong><strong>of education was most likely represented by the presence of <\/strong><strong>many steel pen nibs and ink bottles. \u00a0These items would have been more costly <\/strong><strong>than the reusable slate boards and pencil implements. \u00a0It is likely that ink and <\/strong><strong>pen were reserved for the most advanced students.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-palette-color-8-color has-text-color\"><strong>Fancy gold and brass pen nibs along with fancy ink wells provide insight into the writing implements used by the teachers and school administrators. \u00a0Eye glasses (with both decorative and corrective lenses) were recovered suggesting that glasses were both in style and, in some cases, necessary.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-palette-color-8-color has-text-color\"><strong><span style=\"color: #222222;background-color: #f34957\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Infirmary<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-palette-color-8-color has-text-color\"><strong>One of the most interesting classifications of material recovered were the medicine bottles. \u00a0Although there is historic documentation that an infirmary for women existed at the school, the historical record has no information on the types of ailments treated. \u00a0Based on patent medicine bottle analysis, we now know that the infirmary housed patients that were suffering from tuberculosis, constipation, the common cold, weakness, pain, stomach acid, rash, infection, kidney\/bladder problems, and \u201cfemale\u201d problems.<br><br>Through analysis of prescription bottles and their place of origin, information about where some of the patients may have come from was gathered. \u00a0\u00a0Most patients were using prescriptions from local San Luis Obispo pharmacies, however, others were using prescriptions from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Bernardino, and Petaluma pharmacies.<br><br>In addition to the infirmary patients, it was discovered that students were suffering from constipation and dandruff.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Outhouse Interpretation Although there is much more research that can be conducted, even with this minimal evaluation, it is clear that materials recovered from the privy vault have, and will continue to provide, more information about the daily life of the Immaculate Heart Academy than any historical documents that might be found. Age of Deposit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-954","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=954"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1129,"href":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/954\/revisions\/1129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wolfcreekarcheology.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}