Victorian parlors performed the same functioned as modern living rooms with the exception that there would have been either a separate formal parlor, or a corner designated as the "formal" area for receiving guests. In a large house the formal parlor would be a separate room. In a smaller building such as the Mansion, it would be a corner of a room.
The center table is a reproduction based on photographs and drawings of parlors from the 1860s. Objects on the table are typical of the time period. The center table was supposed to be the focus of the room. The table cover is a re-worked wool shawl. This piece came to the Museum damaged and with some modification done to it. The small kerosene lamp is of the size used in the 1860s. Margaret noted in her diary, "Commenced burning kerosene Wed. Mar 7. 1866." The doily under the lamp is made with tape lace, a popular hand craft from the 1860s. There is a small match safe with leather sides and brass end caps. The small, maroon colored, album is a photograph album for the small carte de visite size photographs. The green object that looks like a book is really a stereograph card viewer. It is marked American Stereoscope New Design Loyd's Patent April 15th, 1856.
There is also a traveling desk with a copy of a letter that Margaret wrote to her brother in 1866. There are two glass inkwells and a mother of pearl pen holder with steel pen point. The small book is there to represent Margaret's diary which is about the same size. The original diary is housed in the Archives. The book is Germs of Thought, or Rudiments of Knowledge by Thomas Wood, 1837.
