I have toured many historic sites where the beds looked shorter, but when I
or someone else asked the guide they would tell you that the bed is actually
as large as they are today (at least length wise). They said the beds appear
shorter because of the the heights of the matresses or the way the beds are
situated in the rooms.  A nice example is Jefferson's bed at Monticello.  It
appears short partially because it sets in an alcove and partially because
of its overstuffed mattress.  It was more than long enough for his 6'+
frame.

Missy Story
Wickliffe Mounds Research Center

-----Original Message-----
From: Lori Allen <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 11:51 PM
Subject: Re: Bed length


>I doubt seriously that a higher percentage of people slept in a fetal
>position in the 19th century than today...and how would you research
>that????? Nobody even how THEY sleep throughout the night.
>
>Normally, I'd agree with you on the economics....but the one case of the
>bed (that I saw) being really short was in a VERY nice house...wealthiest
>people in town.  This is the case in several museums where the owners were
>typically affluent and the bed was in a LARGE bedroom.
>
>This has me TOO puzzled.  I have seen one bed demonstrably short and been
>told numerous times by museum guides that the beds were shorter in the 19th
>century.  Are they?  Is it a myth?  Was it common for people to sleep
>propped up.?  Were people shorter?  (I SERIOUSLY doubt this as being
>significant)
>
>Since I am planning a career in interpretive programming, I want to know if
>interpreters have been BS'ing me for years or what.
>
>Lori Allen
>Graduate Student, History and Museum Studies
>University of Missouri - St. Louis
>
>"Well behaved women rarely make history."
>                                  - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Historian
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
>Behalf Of T W Moran
>Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 6:51 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Bed length
>
>
>        People slept in a curled up almost fetal position. Space was at a
>premium. Look at the beds of the rich and the beds of the poor. Rich
>have longer beds than the poor.
>        Look at the sick rooms off the side of many a colonial kitchen. The
>room is small, so only a small bed could go in there.
>        It is a case of economics.
>                        Tw
>
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