Aprons: women’s history told in the aprons they wore
Vintage apron collector, Bobbe Schafer, speaks at Olympia Timberland Library Wed., May 8
Stories of women’s historical roles, fashion trends, and 20th century American folk art and culture are preserved in aprons, those once commonplace, almost invisible artifacts of everyday domestic life. Bobbe Schafer, speaker and collector of vintage aprons, presents a peek into women’s lives in the 1940s to the 1970s using slides of vintage apron styles and about 30 of her own collection of historical aprons.
Schafer will be at the Olympia Timberland Library on Wednesday, May 8 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Some of the images Ms. Schafer will show are pictures from the fronts of sewing pattern envelopes. Revealingly, those from the 40s and 50s often show a woman holding some kind of cleaning item—a mop, a duster—but, not so in patterns from the 70s. The pattern covers also show cultural context, such as the TVs and other technologies young families would be proud to own, as well as hairstyles, clothes, shoes and other objects.
After the presentation, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their own stories of aprons. Did your grandmother’s apron provide a handy basket for fresh garden peas and potatoes? Did her apron dry your tears? Perhaps a pretty apron dolled up a plain dress when neighbors dropped by.
Schafer has been an interpretive naturalist, a librarian and a folk art historian. She is now also a designer and maker of aprons. She has a large collection of patterns and over 300 aprons from the past. She is a Women’s History Performer with the National Women’s History Project and a member of the American Sewing Guild. Her website is www.bobbeschafer.com.
The presentation is sponsored by the Friends of the Olympia Timberland Library. The library is located at 313 8th Avenue SE. For more information, please contact the library at (360) 352-0595 or visitwww.TRL.org.
