Called by the Bell: What Life Was Really Like for A Mid-19th Century Servant August 12, 2007

Many of the Irish girls who immigrated to New York City in the early to mid-19th century found work as domestic servants in fashionable homes like the Merchant's House on East Fourth Street. These women worked from dawn to dusk, performing the most laborious tasks of daily life -- often for very little pay. Because they left few written records, their story is often forgotten. One thing is for certain: the comfortable lifestyle enjoyed by wealthy New Yorkers would have been impossible without them. This display features pictures of the fourth floor servants' quarters -- closed to the public -- and offers insight into what life was really like for a mid-19th century domestic servant.