WEST CHESTER, PA — The West Chester University Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology is set to debut its most ambitious exhibition yet, “Roaring in Secret: Subversion and Change in the 1920s,” on Friday, November 15, at 6 p.m. This opening event, featuring a live performance by a WCU student jazz band, invites attendees to don period attire and immerse themselves in the transformative era of the 1920s. The exhibition will be hosted in the Lower Gallery of the Old Library, located at 775 S. Church Street.
Under the direction of Dr. Michael A. Di Giovine, professor of anthropology and museum studies, along with Tom Haughey, associate professor of theatre, a team of 15 undergraduate and graduate museum studies students have devoted nearly a year to crafting this dynamic display. The exhibition delves into the decade’s secretive and subversive elements, exploring themes from artistic and technological advancements to socio-economic shifts, including the impact of suffrage, flapper culture, Prohibition, and immigration.
Visitors are invited to explore a meticulously recreated 1920s home, where each room narrates the story of individuals from that era, such as a flapper girl, a struggling immigrant, and a middle-class youth. The exhibit boasts an array of authentic artifacts, sourced from generous loans and donations from families including the Schlendorf Vintage Collection, the Di Giovine-Harwood family, the Morrill family, the Nammavong family, and Malena’s Vintage Boutique.
Adding a layer of intrigue, the exhibition includes a hidden speakeasy, reflective of the clandestine gatherings that defied Prohibition laws. Artifacts in this section are rare and historically significant, featuring unopened bootleg liquor bottles, medicinal whiskey prescriptions, and an operational 1920s slot machine. The speakeasy further enhances the Jazz Age atmosphere with instruments from the Hartenberger World Music Collection, including a rare Royal Slide Saxophone.
Dr. Di Giovine expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This is by far the most ambitious exhibition we have ever mounted. In addition to curating more than 100 artifacts, some of them quite rare and quite large, the students wanted this to be immersive, as if you were stepping back in time.” He credited Tom Haughey’s expertise in set design for the exhibition’s theatrical presentation, which distinguishes it from traditional historical displays.
Graduate assistant curator Mary Joy Moyer, who played a pivotal role in the exhibition’s development, remarked on the learning experience, saying she “learned more about the behind-the-scenes aspects of all the jobs there are. This includes helping with hard decision-making that every curator faces.” Moyer’s involvement underscores the educational aspect of the project, bridging her knowledge in history, museum studies, and criminal justice as she progresses toward her master’s degree.
The exhibition’s opening reception on November 15 will feature Prohibition-era refreshments and appetizers, running from 6 to 8 p.m. “Roaring in Secret: Subversion and Change in the 1920s” will remain open to the public through 2025, with museum hours from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and guided tours available upon request. This exhibition promises to provide a rich, educational experience, showcasing the enduring impact of the 1920s on contemporary society.
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