With the spooky season upon us, join State Historic Site Educators, Elana Barton from the Sam Bell Maxey House, and Joanne Soward and Cortney Smith from Fulton Mansion, as they explore mourning, spiritualism, and symbolism in the Victorian Era.
The Sam Bell Maxey House will explore the rise of Victorian spiritualism, from mysterious spirit raps to the séance rooms where science, grief, and spectacle intertwined. The Fulton Mansion will look at mourning practices such as how Victorians dressed themselves and their homes as well as cemetery symbolism and practice.
Interested in visiting these sites in October? Get an inside peek at upcoming events like Maxey after Dark and Fulton Mansion Spooky Stories!
Cortney Smith has been an Educator at the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site for nearly two years. She received her BA from The University of Texas at Austin where she double majored in Classical Studies and History with a minor in Business. She earned her MA in History from Texas State University, specializing in Public History. The Fulton Mansion is not her first position with the THC or the State. During her studies, she held internships at the Sam Rayburn House and the National Museum of the Pacific War and worked as a Tour Guide at the Capital Visitors Center. During her time as the latter, she became a Certified Interpretive Guide. Cortney now uses her knowledge of interpretation, research, and writing to share history in new and exciting ways.
Joanne Soward serves as an Educator at the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, where she leads the Foodways program and oversees engaging, curriculum-aligned school tours. She holds a B.A. in History and Art History from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Joanne brings a decade of classroom experience, having taught Art, Graphic Design, Communication Applications, and Drama. In addition, she operated a successful event-planning business for seventeen years, honing skills in logistics, guest experience, and program design. This combined background informs her interpretive approach, which pairs scholarly rigor with memorable, hands-on learning. She is certified in K–12 Art, Special Education, and Family & Consumer Sciences. Committed to community stewardship, Joanne serves on the board of the Aransas County Historical Society. She is also a member of Leadership Aransas County, Class XXIX. Joanne’s research interests include public history and the application of material culture to storytelling in heritage settings. An avid genealogist, she has conducted archival work across the Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and Scotland.