Sewing Hands: The Legacy of the Morristown Sewing School

Date: February 4, 2023

Event Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Event Website

Event Description:

In conjunction with Morris County Historical Society (MCHS), Sankofa Heritage Collective of Morris County, and Bethel AME Church, Morris Arts will present a community outreach event to foster awareness, discussion, and insight into the Morristown Sewing School. In operation between 1879-1889, the school served as place where over 500 young girls, black and white alike, were taught practical sewing skills by local society ladies.

Outside of the donation of 45 teacher books to MCHS in 2018, little is known of the school and its students, outside of publicly available information.

Anne Motto, MCHS Curator of Collections, will give a short presentation of her extensive research of the sewing school and its students, including some limited but helpful related images. A handout of the Sewing School student names will be available so attendees can potentially help further research students and provide photographs and additional information to help supplement the existing historic record.

Note: The black and white image is a representation of women sewing during the time period but is not a photo the from Morristown Sewing School.

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