Part of who we are is defined by the personal connections we make in life – family, friends, communities. These objects embody expressions of care and affection for those around us.
Care
Doctor’s Saddlebag
Late 19th Century
U of A Museum Collections
As the closest commodity to Urgent Care in the late 1800s, this medical saddlebag was used by O.D. Slaughter to treat patients about 30 minutes east of Fayetteville in Habberton. With a miniature apothecary, or pharmacy, at his side and a patient to help, Dr. Slaughter’s story is preserved through his bag. But is it just his story we see here?
While it may seem like a solitary item, there are an immeasurable amount of stories and standpoints ingrained into its leather.
Co-Curator Jess Carroll: My grandfather, Dr. Peter J. Carroll, was an obstetrician that devoted his life to helping anyone and everyone who needed him. I wanted to display an artifact related to the medical field in order to evoke the diverse array of emotions and relationships that people have with the world of medicine.
Miss Arkansas Princess Banner and Crown
2021
Personal Collection of Lauren Stephens
Co-Curator Lauren Stephens: Pictured here is my crown and banner. Serving as the 2021 Miss Arkansas Princess of America has given me great pride and has shaped my identity as a University of Arkansas student. In this role, I have given back to the community by volunteering at food pantries throughout NWA.
If you were Miss Arkansas, what would your platform be?
Affection
Greeting Card
19th Century
U of A Museum Collections
This delicate greeting card proclaims the importance of love, sincerity, and friendship. Dried flowers and gold leaf filigree border small paintings of cherubs and preening ladies, and rhyming poems about affection grace each page.
Co-Curator Harper Haynes: Despite the level of intricacy, the card’s core sentiment mirrors how we show care today, and the universal nature of vulnerability. While the poems are a bit formal, this card’s emphasis on grace and friendship illustrates the human urge to make beautiful things for those we love.
How do you show affection or appreciation towards your loved ones?
Greeting Card
21st Century
Personal Collection of Harper Haynes
Valentine’s Day and anniversary cards are paper-based material expressions of vulnerability and care. They’re a medium used to convey affection, and can provide snapshots into intimate relationships.
Co-Curator Harper Haynes: Card-making and collage art are a form of self-expression and expressing appreciation for my loved ones. This anniversary card is representative of an overwhelming love towards my partner, illustrated by the sappy text, silly inside jokes, and dream-like photographs. I feel that these cards complement the 19th century greeting card in that they both express care in a heartfelt, vulnerable way.