Press Releases

Museum Dedicates New Display to What Trash Can Tell Us About Tavern Culture, Everyday Life During the Revolutionary Era in Philadelphia

December 19, 2024

IThis image shows an number of fragments of animal bones and shells found in a privy pit at the site of the Museum.

The animal bone and shell fragments found in the privy of an 18th-century tavern that once operated on the building site of what is now the Museum of the American Revolution. The Humphreys family served beer, cider, wine, liquor, and typical tavern food of the period to patrons. Archaeologists identified 8,225 animal bones and bone fragments in the privy from 31 species such as pigs, sheep, cattle, birds, and deer. Courtesy of the Museum of the American Revolution.

Features Artifacts From Archaeological Dig of Museum’s Build Site, One of the Largest in Philadelphia History

The Museum of the American Revolution today announces a new second-floor display dedicated to exploring what the things people have thrown away in the past can tell us in the present day about their lives. Trash Tells the Truth: Archaeology at the Museum, on view now in the Museum’s Color Guard of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution case through 2025, features a selection of the thousands of artifacts uncovered at the dig site of the Museum in 2014 – specifically, within the privy of an 18th-century unlicensed tavern run by Quakers Benjamin and Mary Humphreys.

The Humphreys’ privy was more than just a toilet; with no trash service in the city at the time, the family and their patrons used the privy as a receptacle for household waste and other discarded items. These items are now the precious artifacts that provide a glimpse into the social dynamics and political choices of the Humphreys family and the employees and patrons of their tavern. Of particular note are examples of the nearly 375 ceramic vessels archaeologists found in the Humphreys’ privy – indicative of their tavern ownership – including one punchbowl that was revealed through analysis to be the earliest known example of American-made hard-paste porcelain.

This image shows a Philadelphia Porcelain Punch Bowl. The bowl is slightly broken and was found during an archaeological excavation during the Museum’s construction.

This punch bowl is the earliest known example of American hard-paste porcelain. It was made by the American China Manufactory in Philadelphia in 1772 and is now part of the Museum of the American Revolution’s collection after being found during the archaeological excavation in preparation for the new Museum site. Photograph by Robert Hunter.

This treasure trove not only uncovered exciting details to historians about the objects themselves, but more notably about the people who once owned and used them, and the role that gathering places such as the Humphreys’ tavern could play during the pivotal days of the American Revolution. For instance, a broken windowpane found in the privy was inscribed with the names and initials of men who frequented the tavern, some of whom have been identified by archaeologists. The phrase, “We admire riches and are in love with idleness,” is also inscribed on the glass – a line based on a speech by Marcus Porcius Cato (95 BCE-46 BCE) of the Roman Republic that may have been chosen in order to criticize British tyranny during the 1760s or 1770s.

“These artifacts allow us to imagine the meals, celebrations, and conversations that took place in the Humphreys’ tavern at a time when the city and the world was changing rapidly,” said Tyler Putman, Senior Manager of Gallery Interpretation for the Museum. “They showcase and build historical empathy for the 18th-century Philadelphia citizens who, much as we do today, sat across the table from friends and family at a city tavern, toasting a political success or hashing out a disagreement.”

The Humphreys family purchased a now-demolished house on an alley at the future site of the Museum in July 1776. Tavern keeping may have been frowned upon by the Humphreys’ Quaker community, which opposed consuming alcohol in excess and unruly behavior. The Humphreys also operated their tavern illegally, without a license required by the city.

Changing Quaker beliefs may have also influenced the Humphreys’ decision to manumit, or free, an enslaved woman of African descent in May 1776 named Quansheba Morgan. After gaining her freedom, Quansheba remained with the family and assisted with the tavern – continuing her important role in their household and business.

“These were not people who left many documentary records of their lives, so we may never know their motivations and full stories,” Putman said. “But by studying the trash they left behind, we can see how the Revolution transformed the lives of these common Philadelphians.”

About Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.