Victorians had Sex? Hear All About it 2/13/2011

Victorians had sex? ...Hard to believe, but let's face it, we wouldn't be here if they didn't!


Come explore the bedroom of yesteryear in the Hoosier Chapter, Victorian Society in America's first event of 2011.

Hosted at the beautifully restored Fishback-Annis House, home of Events on Delaware, 1101 N. Delaware Street at 2pm on Sunday, February 13, 2011.

We welcome HVSA members and the general public to hear "Lie Still and Think of the Empire: Love, Sex and Marriage in Victorian America," lead by Professor Karen Lystra, of California State University, Fullerton and author of "Searching the Heart: Women, Men, and Romantic Love in Nineteenth Century America."

The talk will challenge the still-dominant stereotype of Victorian culture that characterizes couples as prudish and sexually repressed, marriage as loveless, marital sex as aimed almost exclusively at reproduction, courtship as chaperoned and sexless, and women as raised to be passionless and men to to seek fun and sexual release with prostitutes.


Using love letters, Lystra will bring the audience into the Victorian parlor and bedroom to see and hear the real Victorian experience of sex and love which is full of erotic passion and romantic love.


Bring a copy of the book with you and Karen will gladly autograph it for you!




Admission Pricing: Current HVSA members, free
Public, $3 per person or 2 for $5

**-OR- become a member of HVSA, get admission to this event and save $5 off membership. Individual memberships, normally $40 will be $35 and Family membership, normally $50 will be $45.

Last Dinner on the Titanic/ Celebrating HVSA's Inaugural Year

The HVSA Board Celebrating our Inaugural Year! Left to Right: Jim Obergfell, J. Scott Keller, Leah Orr, Jennifer Capps, Vanessa Burkhart, Tiffany Benedict Berkson, David Buchanan (not shown: Aimee Rose Formo)

Hard to believe it's been so long since members of the Hoosier Chapter, Victorian Society in America set sail on the Titanic, but we certainly had a great time! And most importantly, we all lived to tell.

Cruise director giving some notes to passengers...

1st course

November 13, 2010- Elegantly attired passengers were greeted at The Propylaeum with scents and sounds such as Titanic's final passengers were treated to almost 100 years ago. What followed was course after course--eight in all--from the Titanic's 1st class dinner menu, as speaker, Craig Ware intermittently popped in to provide commentary on the clear night, sailing conditions and other insights.




After dinner, passengers were further entertained by Craig's brief talk about his experience as a Titanic enthusiast, and relative of some of the lost passengers. Craig's presentation was polished, informative and entertaining. Guests were so fascinated, they stayed long after dinner ended to have Craig answer their many questions.

Here are just a few highlights via photos, provided by Faith Blackwell, of Faith Blackwell Photography, LLC.


We again want to thank the passengers and the many businesses who contributed to this successful evening! It would not have been the same without the contributions of the following:

Faith Blackwell Photography, LLC, The Cork + Cracker, Rene's Bakery, Goose the Market, Colored Threads, Fancy Fortune Cookies, The Best Chocolate in Town, Engledow Group, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, J. Scott Keller and etsy store, Preservation Station.

A toast to the HVSA's 1st successful year