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Lawrence University senior Emma Jacobs has dedicated over two years to researching the Teakwood Room in Chapman Hall, as part of her studies in history and art history. Her work culminated in a recent presentation held in the historic space on Chapman's second floor.

Jacobs' interest in Orientalism within late 19th-century art and design began during her sophomore year. Her research continued through her junior year, resulting in a paper that earned her the Elizabeth Richardson Award for women excelling in studio art and art history.

The Teakwood Room was designed by Lockwood de Forest and displayed at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Alice Chapman purchased it for her Milwaukee home, and after her death, it was gifted to Milwaukee-Downer College. Following the merger of Lawrence and Downer in 1964, it was requested that the room be preserved, leading to its relocation to Lawrence's Chapman Hall.

Jacobs’ research received funding from the Lawrence University Research Fellows program, allowing her to travel to New York and Philadelphia to study other examples of de Forest’s work. She focuses on how history is represented through objects like those found in the Teakwood Room. De Forest was associated with the American Craft Revival movement, using Indian architectural motifs for his designs, which were executed by craftsmen in Ahmedabad, India.

“He was part of the movement of artists that was trying to move away from mass production and industrialization, preserving the arts and crafts, but he was still partaking in mass production,” Jacobs noted.

Working with faculty and staff at Lawrence, Jacobs aims to aid in preserving the Teakwood Room while acknowledging its historical significance for both Lawrence and former Milwaukee-Downer College communities. “People hold this room very near and dear to their hearts,” she said. “They petitioned to have it come to Lawrence because they wanted it to stay so bad. With this research, there’s more incentive for funding to help preserve this room as a historical space.”

Beth Zinsli ’02, assistant professor of art history at Lawrence University, has secured two grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities related to work on the Teakwood Room. The first grant assessed preservation methods; subsequent funding will implement recommendations such as UV light filters on windows.

Jacobs plans ongoing involvement by creating permanent signage explaining the room's historical significance based on her research findings. “Emma’s rigorous research on the Teakwood Room reframes it within a global context and confirms that it is truly a university treasure that helps us better understand and share our history,” Zinsli stated.

After graduation, Jacobs intends to pursue graduate studies focusing on library science with an emphasis on archives management.

Any views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.