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Writing

On the right hand side of this photo are parts of Chinese inkstones. Chinese workers at the laundry made ink by rubbing water into the stone. In the U.S. in the 19th century, most people wrote using bottles of ink and pens with nibs.

 

Paper was expensive so children wrote their lessons on slate boards with slate “pencils.” Afterwards, the boards could be wiped clean and used again.

 

 

 

The artifacts told us that the Chinese laundry workers wrote with Euroamerican inks and pens, but also liked to use traditional Chinese ink and brushes

 

 

What are some of the things the laundry workers might have needed writing for?

How do you think things like computers, phones, cheap paper and disposable pens have changed the ways in which we use writing to communicate?

 

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