1. Historical Thinking The Mattox House Activity

2. Object of Inquiry: Mattox House

3. Central Problems • Overarching Questions: What are the challenges and problems historians and curators face in “recreating” an account of a past event using evidence? How do historians and curators meet these challenges? • Driving Question of the Activity: What was the floor plan of the Mattox House in the 1930s?

4. Evidence & Sources What was the floor plan of the Mattox House in the 1930s? • Five images of Mattox House (exterior only) • Interviews with • Dr. Leslie Long, Bryan Co. Resident and Agricultural Specialist • Interviewed in 1989 • E.J. Cutler, Ford Executive (accompanied Henry Ford when he purchased the house) • Interviewed in 1955 • Charles Boles, Mattox Neighbor • Member of the same church as Mattox’s; Lived in Bryan Co., GA at the time of the interview in 1989 • Carrie Mattox, Daughter • Born in 1926; 7 when the house was sold; interviewed in 1989 (63 years old) • Amos Mattox, Jr., Son • Born in 1924; 9 when the house was sold; interviewed in 1989 (65 years old)

5. Your tasks: Examine the evidence, formulate a hypothesis, & draw conclusions • Review the evidence (photos and interviews) • Decide how many rooms were in the house and their purposes • Suggestions: You may want to start with the number of bedrooms • Decide where the rooms are as well as other features (e.g., halls, porches) • Make a tentative floor plan. Be prepared to explain how you made your choices by providing evidence from the documents to support your claims

7. Front Back Chimney Side Arbor Side