The Sled, the Litter, and the Plot: Finding Connections Between Mundane Material Culture From World War II's USS North Carolina

Abstract

USS North Carolina, a World War II battleship, which received 12 battle stars during its career, was turned into a memorial and museum in 1961 after it was decommissioned. Since then, the museum has told the story of World War II and life on the "Showboat" through exhibits and displays of World War II artifacts and paraphernalia. Often, museums house a much larger collection than they can display; the North Carolina Memorial is no exception. In its collection, the museum houses everything from the fanciest silver to the most innocuous papers. Many of the more ordinary objects can help tell stories of war and life to which the visitors can easily connect. This thesis focuses on part of North Carolina's story through the voices of the sailors using three "mundane" artifacts. The object biographies of seemingly unrelated objects -- in this case the Kingfisher sea sled, a vertical plotting board, and a stretcher -- showcase elements of construction, technological improvement, and inferred value. Additionally, events and people connect these seemingly unrelated artifacts. Ultimately, mundane artifacts can be related to each other and to stories shared to provide a holistic and relatable history.