While serving as a nurse during the Civil War, Louisa May Alcott wrote letters to her family describing her experiences. At the urging of friends, she fictionalized them for publishing. Initially, the stories were printed in a Boston magazine. Later the entire collection became available in book form entitled Hospital Sketches. As part of the Mansion’s continued devotion to women’s history, a live performance of one of Alcott’s Civil War nursing stories as interpreted by Josh Hitchens is presented in the parlor.

Christina HIggins portrays the nurse in a one-woman performance.

Performances of Tribulation Periwinkle: Civil War Nurse
Friday, March 24, 7:00 pm with remarks by Josh Hitchens
Saturday, March 25, 7:00 pm with remarks by Dr. D’Antonio
Sunday, March 26, 2:00 pm with remarks by Dr. D’Antonio
Cost: $30, Member cost: $25
Purchase tickets online at
http://ebenezermaxwellmansion.org/civil-war-nurse/
or call 215-438-1861
Before Friday’s play, the Mansion’s creative director, Josh Hitchens, talks about Alcott’s Hospital Sketches and Civil War era nursing practices. Preceding the Saturday and Sunday performances, Dr. Patricia D’Antonio, Director of University of Pennsylvania’s Barbara Bates Center for the Study of History of Nursing gives an account of nursing practices in the 19th century.