Four Aprons
Item
-
Title
-
Four Aprons
-
Description
-
Sewn for 10 cents each by ladies of Bethel AME Church in Pennington as a fundraiser. Donor is Constance Driver Wheeler (Wheeler remembers her mother and other ladies of the church sewing the aprons in their home.)
-
Churches have long been a hub for Black social, economic, and political activism. This was especially brought into focus during the 1930s, when many African American churches organized fundraisers to support their congregations and local communities during the economic hardships of the Great Depression.
Though it is not documented, it is likely that these aprons sewn by the donor’s mother, was an expert seamstress. Sewing, quilting, and needlework were common skills and income sources for Black women (both during and after slavery). Perhaps at Mother Bethel AME, her mother belonged to a church-based sewing club often referred to as Women’s Sewing Circles, Ladies Auxiliary Societies, etc. For sewing together, these women often gathered at someone’s home to hand make household items like aprons, tablecloths or handkerchiefs. The sewing gatherings were also opportunities for the women to socialize.
In the instance of Mother Bethel AME Church, the aprons were sold during a fundraiser for either church operations or community charity. Monogrammed with the initials "T.S.", the light blue apron may have been made for just one buyer. The low price of “10 cents each” reflects the financial struggles of the era, where Black women’s labor was undervalued. Yet it shows their ingenuity and resilience in creating economic opportunities.
-
Contributor
-
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
-
Date Created
-
(c. 1930-1940)
-
Creator
-
Wheeler, Constance Driver, Bethel African American Episcopal Church
-
Rights
-
This work is not in copyright, but commercial uses of this digital representation are limited. For more information, contact info@ssaamuseum.org and see http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-NC/1.0/
-
Identifier
-
2023.1.7.1, 2023.1.7.2, 2023.1.7.3, 2023.1.7.4
-
Format
-
Physical Object
-
Extent
-
4 items
-
Spatial Coverage
-
Pennington, NJ
-
Publisher
-
SSAAM
-
Is Part Of
-
2023.1.7.1-4
-
Subject
-
Sewing
-
Women dressmakers
-
Textile fabrics
-
Aprons
