This lecture is presented by our partners at the Clarke County Historical Association (CCHA), and has been sponsored by FNB Bank. There will be a companion exhibit on display at CCHA.

About: In this third part of CCHA’s Fabric of America lecture series, Colorado State University’s Dr. Ann Little will examine women’s identity around the turn of the 19th century. Women during this period were touring natural wonders and writing about their beauty and being inspired by nature. But during this time, they were also considered natural resources for a nation that was eager to populate the continent with white American families. How did ideas of nature inspire these women?

The high-waisted (empire) gown was praised for its rendering of free women’s bodies as more “natural”–although many writers and observers were careful to criticize women who revealed too much of their natural forms in these gowns of gauze and filmy muslin. The popularity of this style coincided with the beginnings of women’s tourism to natural springs and spas. Did the shape and silhouette of clothes impact their experiences? Dr. Little will speak to these and other questions in her thorough examination.

Date & Time: Sunday, April 16, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.

Ticket Price & Information: All tickets are general admission and are available through CCHA. $20 for members of the Clarke County Historical Association and $25 for non-members. Register for this event ONLINE.

Visit the CCHA website for details. Contact CCHA with any questions.