08. Max’s Bedroom & Dr. Walker Exhibit
Second Floor, Temporary Gallery
Transcript
This first room on the right, in the upper hall, served as the main bedroom, initially belonging to Max Richardson and later occupied by Norman and Florence Bates. Some of Max’s original furnishings remain, including the Japanese-inspired fireplace mantel, a cleverly ‘camouflaged’ safe, a table, and a chair. Additionally, part of his ethnographic collection is displayed here in a Victorian-era bookcase, reflecting his interest in global cultures.
To the left of the room’s entrance is a closet that Norman and Florence later converted into an en-suite bathroom, complete with a small bathtub, a modern convenience for the early 20th century.
The Richardson-Bates House Museum is privileged to house Dr. Mary Walker’s Medal of Honor, prominently displayed in this room. Dr. Walker, a native of the Town of Oswego, remains the only woman ever awarded the Medal of Honor. This exhibit showcases clothing and personal artifacts related to her extraordinary life and legacy.
Dr. Walker was a pioneering figure in American history. She was not only a Civil War surgeon, but also an activist for women’s votes, an author, and a champion of dress reform. Dr. Walker was the second woman in the United States to earn a medical degree, following Elizabeth Blackwell. The exhibit provides a compelling look into her groundbreaking contributions to medicine, women’s rights, and social reform.
For more detailed information regarding the Dr. Mary Walker exhibit, please ask a staff member for the separate brochure (or visit the exhibition’s webpage).