This is a Virtual Presentation

Presenter, Erika Holst, is the Curator of History at the Illinois State Museum.

It is hard to overstate the role of textiles in early American life. For families, the making of textiles and clothing required countless hours of labor. On the other hand, the purchase of textiles could consume a large portion of the household budget. For the nation, textiles drove the American pre-Civil War economy. They provided a money-making opportunity for a few and exploited the labor of countless others.

Erika Holst, Curator of History at the Illinois State Museum; 2021

This presentation will explore cloth and clothing production in the 19th century and textiles’ impact on pre-Civil War life in Illinois and will highlight examples of garments and artifacts from the Illinois State Museum’s collections.

After the presentation, the audience will have the opportunity to draw parallels between the 19th-century garment industry and today while pondering questions.

The presentation is approximately one hour. Ms. Holst will entertain questions immediately following.

This is a free event, however registration is required to receive the Zoom link via email.