Object History

My first job in an archive was in early high school, a winter internship at my hometown’s historical society. Inside a mansionous barn, I walked down dusty rows piled high with broken household objects, rusty farm instruments, crumbling papers and photographs. At the far end of this expanse was a bulky computer loaded with a…

Sign Language Frappé

The very first lesson in my Greek Sign Language class was how to order coffee.  My standard order at the time was “frappé, sweet with milk:” a frothy instant coffee beverage practically synonymous with Greek café life.  The fact that coffee was our first lesson did not surprise me one bit – my coffee order…