Art
Courtship—the period when two people got to know each other before marriage—shaped everyday life for centuries. How Americans courted changed dramatically over time, reflecting shifts in where young people met, who controlled the process, and what love itself meant in daily practice.
Art · Full story
You're in the parlor on a Sunday afternoon. He sits stiffly on the sofa while her mother arranges tea. Their eyes meet for a second over the cups—the only touch allowed, a glance. Later, you're at a soda fountain in 1955, watching teenagers in booths, unsupervised, laughing, hands nearly touching across the table. The rules have shifted beneath their feet.
Reflect
How did you meet the people you've loved? What rules or expectations shaped that moment?