What's Your History?: An Evening with Artifacts

Join us at Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona for a special event to support and celebrate the launch of the What's Your History? Project, an effort to reunite names to faces and voices found in portraits and items from the 18th and 19th centuries that have been lost to time. The focus of the project is not on the wealthy or well known people of the past, but average individuals, like many of our ancestors, whose stories have often been forgotten. Some examples of the fascinating items that will be on display include: a selection of objects from the American Revolutionary War; numerous early photographs, including daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, CDVs, and cabinet cards from the 1840s to 1890s from a vareity of geographic locations, including the USA and Mexico; and a vareity of letters and documents from the 1700s and 1800s that reveal stories lost to us that are only now being rediscovered.

The evening will begin at 5pm, with a welcome cocktail hour and artifact viewing that will run until 6:30pm. During this time, guests will arrive and have access to the bar for beer, wine, cocktails, or soft drinks that they can enjoy while viewing the many artifacts on display across the stunning grounds of Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens. Three different hors d'oeuvres will be served: Broccoli & Cheese Deep Fried Arancini, Florentine Chicken Meatballs, and Philly Cheesesteak Spring Rolls with White BBQ. Please engage in conversation and take the opportunity to meet some of the other guests.

Next, enter the beautiful reception area of Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens with lush foliage and waterfall features to sit down to an elegant, plated dinner service. A Classic Garden Salad with Herb Garden Ranch will be served as a starter, followed by the main meal of Sliced Beef Tenderloin with Cherry Red Wine Demi, along with sides of Buttery Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans. For vegetarian or vegan guests, please indicate your preference when purchasing your ticket and a chef's choice option will be provided. Guests will be seated 10 to a table with open seating.

Following dinner, Research Historain Austin W. Smith will speak about the What's Your History? Project and some incredible examples of the project's success, including its efforts to identify, digitally document, and preserve protrait photographs dating from 1839-1919.

Following the presentation, guests will be welcomed outside into the gardens where a variety of decadent desserts will be offered including: assorted macarons, cheesecake bites, chocolate mousse cups, chocolate dipped strawberries, and powdered lemon bars. Guests can revisit the bar, continue viewing the artifacts on display, or enjoy music and dancing with a live DJ before the evening ends at 10pm.

Note: A photographer will be present and taking photos of the event. By purchasing a ticket, you authorize the use of these photos by What's Your History?

Info: Guests will arrive to valet parking and then welcomed into the gardens. During the first hour and a half, guests will have access to the bar for beer, wine, cocktails, or soft drinks that they can enjoy while viewing the many artifacts on display across the stunning grounds of Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens. Three different hors d'oeuvres will be served: Broccoli & Cheese Deep Fried Arancini, Florentine Chicken Meatballs, and Philly Cheesesteak Spring Rolls with White BBQ. Please engage in conversation and take the opportunity to meet some of the other guests.

Info: Enter the beautiful reception area of Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens with lush foliage and waterfall features to sit down to an elegant, plated dinner service. A Classic Garden Salad with Herb Garden Ranch will be served as a starter, followed by the main meal of Sliced Beef Tenderloin with Cherry Red Wine Demi, along with sides of Buttery Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans. For vegetarian or vegan guests, please indicate your preference when purchasing your ticket and a chef's choice option will be provided. Guests will be seated 10 to a table with open seating.

Info: Research Historian Austin W. Smith will speak about the What's Your History? Project, sharing its mission to reunite names to faces and voices found in portraits and items from the 18th and 19th centuries that have been lost with time. He'll speak about some incredible examples of the project's success, including its use of facial recognition technology. They'll be a discussion of some of the photographs from the1800s on display, looking at daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, CDVs, and cabinet cards.

Info: Following the dinner and presentation, guests will be welcomed outside into the gardens where a wide variety of decadent desserts will be offered including: assorted macarons, cheesecake bites, chocolate mousse cups, chocolate dipped strawberries, and powdered lemon bars. Guests can revisit the bar, continue viewing the artifacts on display, or enjoy music and dancing before the evening ends at 10pm.

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Host or Publisher Austin W. Smith