New Exhibit Explores Death In The 18th Century

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There is a new and different kind of exhibit at The Betsy Ross House which explores death in the 18th century.

Betsy Ross suffered many tragedies in her lifetime. Her three husbands, parents, two of her children, two of her sisters and other loved ones all died before she did, leaving her in an almost perpetual state of mourning. 

Death Parts United Hearts examines mourning in colonial America where death was just as much a part of life as anything else. Part of the exhibit includes mourning art and hair jewelry. Director Lisa Moulder:

"These rings, these also incorporate hair. It just looks like it's painted but what they would do is grind up the hair of the deceased and mix it with glue and turn it into a paint. So the black in these pieces are actually hair, painted hair."

Death Parts United Hearts runs until April 3rd.

Reported by Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio

Listen to the full podcast below