Abstract
This thesis examines two brothel assemblages recovered from the historical Sandpoint Restricted District as part of the Sandpoint Archaeological Project. While these collections have been examined previously, this thesis dives deeper into the material culture of sex work at the turn of the 20th century using an assemblage of practice approach. This approach allows for a more holistic understanding not only of how the materials connect to one another, but how these artifacts were implemented and understood by the people who used them. Through a focus on self-presentation, envisioned materially as jewelry, cosmetics, and clothing, I intend to better understand how the sex workers of Sandpoint situated themselves amongst broader social ideologies focused on the topics of sex, gender, and womanhood. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of materials related to self-presentation and the role of decision-making in artifact use, the exploration of presentation of self as an assemblage of practice intends to better understand the impact of ideology on decision making. Analysis of artifacts related to self-presentation reveals the complex nature of sex worker personhood, showing how these women used their clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, and other materials to connect to the world around them.