Four Aprons
Item
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Title
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Four Aprons
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Description
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Sewn for 10 cents each by ladies of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Pennington, NJ as a fundraiser. The donor, Constance Driver Wheeler, remembers her mother, Helen, and other ladies of the church sewing the aprons in their home.
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Churches have long been a hub for Black social, economic, and political activism. This was especially true 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.
As noted above, Wheeler remembers the aprons being sewn by her mother and others. Sewing, quilting, and needlework were common skills and income sources for Black women (both during and after slavery). 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. The light blue apron was monogrammed with the initials "T.S." indicating that the apron may have been made for just one buyer or monogrammed by the buyer after purchase.
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Contributor
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Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
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Date Created
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(c. 1930-1940)
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Creator
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Wheeler, Constance Driver, Bethel African American Episcopal Church
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Rights
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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/
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Identifier
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2023.1.7.1, 2023.1.7.2, 2023.1.7.3, 2023.1.7.4
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Format
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Physical Object
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Extent
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4 items
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Spatial Coverage
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Pennington, NJ
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Publisher
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SSAAM
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Is Part Of
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2023.1.7.1-4
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Subject
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Sewing
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Women dressmakers
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Textile fabrics
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Aprons
