I enjoy the feel of revisiting History 101 Class every time I read the theme of the week for
SEPIA SATURDAY
I hope you do too.
Sepia Saturday last week featured a lone person sailing away. Where do we go from there?
Any ideas where some old sailors land, after their days on the sea are over?
Here's one place.
From the Library of Congress, Sailors' Snug Harbor, East Gatehouse, Richmond Terrace, New Brighton, Richmond County, NY. Sometime after, 1933.
Significance-
The Sailors' Snug Harbor,
is a home for aged seamen and opened on Staten Island in 1933.
The gatehouse is one of three on the grounds of the home and forms part of the institution's particularly rich catalog of 19th century architecture.
This week, our theme takes another plunge, but one that is out of the water, and it offers needles and thread instead of boats and oars.
SEW MUCH FABRIC, SEW LITTLE TIME
Just what do these ladies all have in common?
January 29, 1917 Helen Whitty (15 years old) Hand drawn needlework on curtains at Boutwell, Fairclough & Gold, in Boston.
1938, From the Library of Congress, listed as, "Wife of resettler, in her hurricane-proof house, doing needlework for income." Outside the window a tobacco field and a tobacco barn. La Plata project, Puerto Rico.
1937 Ponce, Puerto Rico.
1938, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Another plus for me when visiting other Sepia Saturday posts, as well as my own are discovering random photographers that I never knew by name and story, and yet I am so familiar with his or her work.
Another plus for me when visiting other Sepia Saturday posts, as well as my own are discovering random photographers that I never knew by name and story, and yet I am so familiar with his or her work.
So what do they all have in common?
Mostly, they have their own particular style of needlework, but also, their photographer, Edwin Rosskam pictured below.
August 1940
Aboard a trap fishing boat, photographer Edwin Rosskam smiles for his picture, in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Have you ever heard of him before?
His career in photography is much like Lewis Wick Hines, and his artful eye was excellent in catching everyday life with his camera. Also, much of his work was shot specifically for documentary books as well.
He had a good eye, where his photos still inform us today, on the way things were. As this photo so eloquently shows, young women grew up keeping their fingers and hands in motion.
I am thankful in many ways for Sepia Saturday.
I hope you are too.
For other Sepia Saturday Posts
go here
17 comments:
Does anyone know why Blogger is often so slow in showing your latest post?
Sewing was a popular trade but now machine have taken over.
Greetings,
Filip
Karen I finally found your blog again. There seems to be something odd happening with Google, G+ used to get me straight to your blog, now it's all over the place. I see you are asking why posts are taking longer than usual to post, what the heck are they up to now? Don't tell me more 'brilliant' blasted 'new and improved' ideas, which most of us will suffer from in one way or another. But enough of that rant...
I love your old photos, it makes me appreciate having a sewing machine that much more even though I seldom use it.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Sometimes I don't notice the scheduled post time......so it poists when I'm not expecting.
Love sepia-day cause of what You do with it Karen. You rock! I'd want you at my table anytime:-) .
Sometimes we see wonders with no time to photo. You're right it's a tugging feeling.....Aloha, Sis
So, snitches are not the only ones who get stitches?
Loved the 1938 photo of the resettler. And you've got a photo of three girls on a verandah too!
Karen, memories,memories; cottage out work like embroidery on curtains, was for many mothers a source of income. I remember seeing at some friends home, the table full of curtain material and the mother embroidering it. I still had needlework at school, my children too. My grandaughter 17, I think does not know knitting or embroidery or anything to do with needle and thread. Her mother used to sew her own outfits and is an expert knitter by hand and machine,
She can do anything with her hands, while many children today have two left hands, which is probably not politically right to say any more.
I enjoyed your post.
Sorry Karen, anonymous is I Titania.
The last photo in particular is a treasure.
Another thing in common in the photos is the level of concentration shown. A clever collection.
A great selection of photos. I think I like the final one best.
Women in the old days were so talented with needlework. It fascinates me and I'm impressed.
Hazel
In the first 1938 photo the window almost looks like a poster. And in the 1937 photo that house isn't so hurricane-proof (especially looking at that very small supporting piece of wood).
Why is google so slow, I don't know, I plan my posts in advance so I don't notice when they are slow. But you never know what's google up to next...
Your photos remind me how needlework of any kind can be solitary as well as a community effort whether in the form of a sewing mill or a quilting bee. It's certainly an activity that can bring women together.
I absolutely love your blog! History 101 works for me.
So many lovely photos of ladies carrying out one of my favourite activities. And thank you for introducing me too to another photographer.
SS had certainly proven to be a big experience on the web, about finding things about others, as well as ourselves.
:)~
HUGZ
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