August Virtual Lunch and Learn – The USS Maryland’s Silver Service: History Captured in Repoussé
In 1906 famed Baltimore firm Samuel Kirk and Son created a monumental silver service to be used onboard the newly commissioned USS Maryland (ACR-8). Not only would the service be composed of 48 pieces, but each piece would be unique in representing the history and natural resources of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City through 167 scenes. This lecture will focus on the creation of the silver service and the powerful stories behind many of the scenes.
Robin Gower is the Curator for the Maryland Commission on Artistic Property of the Maryland State Archives. She holds a BA in Anthropology and Archaeology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MA in Museum Studies from Indiana University-Indianapolis. During her summers in high school, Gower volunteered at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History which ignited her passion for caring for museum collections. Prior to the Commission, she worked for Historic Annapolis, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, and the National Park Service. When not at work, you can find her traveling or spending time outdoors with her husband Chris and their pup Casper.