Last updated: June 12, 2023
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Back Stairs at Brucemore: Life as Servants in Early 20th-Century America (Teaching with Historic Places)
When friends and family visited the Douglas family at Brucemore in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, they had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and grace of the mansion's public spaces. Domestic servants were integral to the sophistication and decorum, much less the functionality, of the Brucemore estate. Their work touched every part of the estate. The 21 rooms in the mansion needed to be dusted and swept, and the carpets and furniture cleaned. The children required supervision. Laundry had to be done. There were meals to be cooked, dishes to be cleaned, and silver to be polished. The large lawn had to be trimmed and the garden weeded. The family's farm animals required food and care. Carriages and cars needed maintenance.
During the years that the Douglas family made Brucemore their home, 10 or more people maintained the mansion and grounds at any given time. These people allowed members of the family to pursue hobbies, artistic work, and community service. Understanding the lives of these important, yet virtually unseen residents allows one to explore the "back stairs at Brucemore."
Essential Question
How is labor connected to class, gender, and ethnic background?
Objective
1. To explore the lifestyles and activities of the employees at Brucemore;
2. To compare and contrast working as a servant in a private home with working in a factory or shop;
3. To research ads and articles depicting servants in the early 20th century and consider how stereotypes affect the expectations of employers for employees;
4. To identify and research a historic building in the local community and determine how its use changed over time.
Background
Time Period: Early 20th century
Topics: This lesson could be used in units on the Gilded Age, including the development of industrial America, changes in urban living, and the experiences of immigrants and women.