In this research seminar we explore the place of individuals in a culture using the collections of personal papers in the Mount Holyoke College Archives. How did women in late nineteenth century New England perceive themselves and their world? Were they products of their time, creators of their time, or both? How can we understand their aspirations and efforts towards social transformation? We will find tools for analyzing people's thoughts and lives in the works of Bourdieu, Gramsci, Said, and others. Each student will produce a research paper using archival sources, and assist in the production of a web site.