From February through to 30th April 2012, the Daly House Museum will be presenting a new original exhibit entitled Behind Closed Doors. The exhibit will focus on private life in the late-Victorian period. The exhibit provides an interesting new perspective on Victorian beliefs and customs regarding their private lives, while embodying the core mandates of the Daly House Museum. One of the themes presented in the new exhibit is courtship and romantic relationships, making it the perfect exhibit for a Valentine’s Day theme.  We will look at the strict rules of courtship, and re-examine myths of Victorian prudishness. A display of Victorian Valentine’s day cards will be included in this section. The exhibit will also feature a section on the complications of Victorian underwear.  Victorians, both male and female, were required to wear layers of underwear to keep themselves warm and their clothing clean. The most controversial piece of underwear was the corset. By the late Victorian era, experts were arguing whether the “beautifying” effects of the corset were worth the damage to a woman’s health. Victorians, especially women, devoted a great deal of their private time to using cosmetics and medications to prepare themselves for their public lives.  The new exhibit will include a display and information on the most commonly used over-the-counter medications and cosmetic practices of the period. Behind Closed Doors will showcase many of the wonderful artefacts from the museum’s collection which are not usually on display.  It will also feature new design elements sponsored by the Daly House Museum Ladies’ Auxiliary. Tours can be arranged by appointment. For more information please contact Eileen Trott or Maryann Buri at the Daly House Museum (204) 727-1722 or  dalymuseum@wcgwave.ca