Small Plates, Big Meanings: Glass Cup Plates in the Christie Vilsack Collection

Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack will present an exclusive first look at her family’s newly donated cup plate collection. In this engaging program, Vilsack brings these delicate objects to life, sharing the stories behind their discovery and the personal journey that led her family across the country in search of them. Spanning the 1820s through the 1850s, these small but striking glass plates (on which users set their tea or coffee cup while drinking from the saucer) open a window into early American history, while also reflecting the memories, connections, and moments of wonder gathered along the way.