What’s Cooking With Smithsonian Interns

Ashley Rose Young (left) hosted “Cooking Up History” with Chef David Guas (right) at the National Museum of American History (NMAH).

Duke University Ph.D. Candidate Ashley Rose Young experienced many “unexpected but delightful moments” this summer as a Graduate Intern with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (NMAH) where she worked on the Food History Project.

Ashley helped update the exhibit FOOD: Transforming the American Table, 1950-2015 at the NMAH. She visited the objects processing facility and unpacked hand-painted garden signs from 2001. She also made a visit to Julia Child’s kitchen, where she helped ensure the safety of objects on display and saw everything in great detail, including the knife marks on Child’s cutting board. Additionally, Ashley hosted “Cooking Up History,” which was an event that featured cooking demonstrations and explored the history of food in America. Ashley was inspired by her experience at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (NMAH) to write her dissertation on the food economy and culture of New Orleans.

She recently published an article on the Duke University Versatile Humanists blog, where she reflected on her experiences at the Smithsonian this summer.

To find out more about Ashley’s adventures at the Smithsonian, click here.