The Victorian Frontier: A Comparative Analysis of Artifacts From Fort Gibson Historic Site And Their Implications In Relation To 19th Century American Social Order

Abstract

This thesis is a comparative analysis of two collections from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma that date to the Antebellum and American Civil War periods. Fort Gibson marked the start of the western frontier and the end destination for the Trail of Tears. Its soldiers served as tools for US imperialism into the West but lived different lives depending on their social status within the fort. This project compares ceramic, glass, and metal artifacts recovered from an area associated with enlisted men to artifacts excavated from the commissioned officers' quarters at Fort Gibson. I will argue that the difference in the two collections reflects the social standing of their original owners at the Fort by representing aspects of their daily lives such as dining, drinking, and occupation.