The Marriage Museum

WNYC and art

Marty Wayne interviews two Professors at the College of the City of New York, Sociologist Charles Winick and Historian Sidney Ditzion, about the Marriage Museum, which tells the international story of courtship, marriage, love, and divorce.

Ditzion, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, describes the exhibition as the"total Kinsey approach...there isn't only one way of doing this thing that everyone does." Winick explains the importance of the collection and gives examples of courtship customs that may seem unusual to Americans. Ditzion describes an exhibit on Japanese municipal dating bureaus and hopes that this will lead to an exhibition on computerized dating.

They conclude the discussion on the changing roles of men and women in the home and their apparel. Winick and Ditzion list factors that lead to greater independence and equality for women such as automation of domestic chores and contraception. Both men argue that marriages have not become less stable because of these shifts in gender roles.


Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection


WNYC archives id: 151800
Municipal archives id: T6099