Michigan Time Traveler · 7/10/2002 · Michigan Time Traveler An educational supplement produced...
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KIDS’ History You can help support the Michigan Time Traveler page and other education programs that tell the story of Michigan’s exciting past through contributions to the Michigan Historical Center Foundation. The Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization established in 1989 to support the programs and projects of the Michigan Historical Center. Donations to the Michigan Historical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 17035, Lansing, MI 48901, phone: (517) 373-2565, not only support projects that promote Michigan history, but are also tax deductible to the full extent permitted by federal and state law. Lansing Newspapers In Education (NIE) provides Lansing State Journal newspapers and supplemental teaching materials for area classrooms at little or no cost to the schools. The newspaper becomes a “living textbook,” providing students with timely and relevant topics for discussion in class and at home. If you are interested in sponsoring classroom papers or using the newspaper in your classroom, please contact Michelle Ringlein, NIE Manager at (517) 377-1242. MICHIGAN Historical Center FOUNDATION Michigan Time Traveler An educational supplement produced by Lansing Newspapers In Education, Inc. and the Michigan Historical Center Foundation. Apron Strings Aprons sometimes collect food stains, but they also collect history. This month the Time Traveler is trying on aprons at the Michigan Historical Museum’s Apron Strings: Ties to the Past exhibit. What Is an Apron? The word apron comes from a French word, naperon, meaning a small tablecloth. An apron is an article of clothing usually worn on the front of the body and tied around the waist with strings. It is used to protect clothing, to cover the body or to adorn a costume. An apron can be made of cloth, plastic, leather or other material. Half aprons tie around the waist with a skirt that hangs in front of the body. Full aprons have a skirt and a top section called a bib. Aprons are often hand-made, but can also be purchased ready-made. Who Wears Aprons? Many people say they can almost smell good food cooking when they see an apron that reminds them of their mom or grandmother. Some dads like to wear aprons when they barbecue outdoors in summer. Throughout history aprons have also been a sign of certain occupations. Fishermen wore oilskin aprons. Blacksmiths and carpenters had leather ones. Butlers and maids wore clean white aprons. Lumberyard workers often had short canvas aprons with advertising on the front and pockets for nails. Many people have an apron as part of their historic national costume. They wear these aprons today for special celebrations. But the apron probably had a useful purpose years ago. Do you ever wear an apron? Perhaps you wear it when you eat, help in the kitchen, paint or do crafts. At your dentist’s office a protective apron is put over you when you have your teeth X-rayed. Have you ever worn one of the garments that have replaced aprons in modern times, such as a smock, jumpsuit or coveralls? Many people still enjoy wearing and making aprons. This spring women, men and children who sew made aprons for the “Michigan Apron Challenge.” These are some aprons with a “Michigan” theme. Other aprons have a “patriotic” or a “vintage- look” theme. They are on display at the museum through August 18. Rhonda Marvin of Laingsburg made this apron called “Beautiful Michigan.” Her apron story shows us that an apron can have a lot of history. Aprons have always been an important part of my life. They were one of the first things I learned to sew and iron. In the 1950s my mother sewed aprons for the Jacobson’s stores to supplement the family income. I can still remember the many yards of beautiful fabric, buttons and bias tape. This adventure not only created extra income, it brought our family lasting friendships. The pattern I used for the Michigan theme apron was one my mother used for the aprons she made for Jacobson’s. I chose the blue to represent our beautiful Great Lakes and many waterfalls. The pastoral scene reminds me of an area south of Mackinaw City on I-75. As you round a slight curve in the highway, you see a farm scene much like the scene in this fabric. Things to Do • Ask your grandparents or great-grandparents about what they remember about aprons. Write a story about their apron memories. • Read My Apron by Eric Carle or Ma Dear’s Aprons by Patricia McKissack to someone younger than you. These books are available at your local library or bookstore. • Visit the Apron Strings exhibit on the Web for pictures of interesting aprons and “Kids’ Stuff” activities: http://www.michiganhistory.org/aprons.html. • Teachers, school may be out for the summer, but you will find lesson plans for the Michigan Time Traveler at www.michiganhistory.org/timetraveler. At the Museum • See the aprons on display in Apron Strings: Ties to the Past. It’s a special exhibit at the Michigan Historical Museum until August 18, 2002. Try on an apron or design your own. • There are more aprons in the exhibits on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the museum, too. Look for the “Victory Garden” apron in the Arsenal of Democracy exhibit and the patchwork apron in the 1930s bungalow. The Michigan Historical Museum, 717 W. Allegan St., Lansing is located two blocks west of the Capitol in downtown Lansing. Museum admission is free. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. The museum telephone hotline: (517) 373-3559. The museum is part of the Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Visit us on the Web: www.michiganhistory.org. These men were photographed around the end of the 19th century. Sometimes clothing gives us clues to old photos. We know these men were cooks because they wore aprons. They worked on a wanigan, a floating bunkhouse for men who helped float logs down to sawmills on the Muskegon River. (State Archives) Nigel and Victoria Little take a closer look at patriotic aprons on exhibit at the Michigan Historical Museum. Victoria was in first grade and Nigel in second grade at the Washington School in Bay City this past year. The patchwork apron is from the 1930s. The Victory Garden apron is from the World War II years during the 1940s. The red apron with pioneer scenes is from the 1950s. These historical aprons are in the collection of the Michigan Historical Museum. Putting Michigan on an Apron Aprons in History 1900s Many aprons do not have neck straps. The top of the apron’s bib is pinned to the women’s blouse or dress near the shoulder. 1910s Herbert H. Hoover is in charge of the U.S. Food Administration during and after World War I. An apron style is named for him. The wrap-around full “Hooverette” or “Hoover apron” is popular into the 1920s. 1920s During the Roaring Twenties there is a wider choice of apron styles. Wealthy women wear fancy half aprons. Stores sell kits to make aprons with embroidered designs. 1930s During the Great Depression women can’t afford many pretty dresses. Aprons–some made from feed sacks–protect their clothes. In 1939 Dorothy wears a blue and white gingham pinafore-style apron in the hit movie The Wizard of Oz. 1940s Women wear aprons or jumpsuits at work in World War II factories and flowery print aprons at home. 1950s During the “baby boom” homemakers wear a variety of aprons from fancy holiday styles to useful cobbler aprons. TV moms on Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best lead the fashion trend. 1960s More women work outside the home and use automatic clothes washers. Terry cloth half aprons are popular. 1970s Permanent press fabrics and improved laundry products mean less need for aprons. Novelty aprons with printed humorous or cute messages become popular. 1980s The barbecue apron is a popular style for both men and women. Aprons become collectibles to look for at antique and flea markets. 1990s Aprons with logos are often part of a worker’s uniform in food stores or restaurants. The barbecue-style apron with prints of lighthouses, cats, hot peppers or clever sayings is a popular travel souvenir. But you don’t find aprons in many homes anymore. Apron Strings: Ties to the Past is a program of ExhibitsUSA, a National Division of Mid-America Arts Alliance.
Transcript of Michigan Time Traveler · 7/10/2002 · Michigan Time Traveler An educational supplement produced...
KIDS’History
You can help support the Michigan Time Traveler page and othereducation programs that tell the story of Michigan’s exciting past throughcontributions to the Michigan Historical Center Foundation. TheFoundation is an independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization
established in 1989 to support the programs and projects of the Michigan Historical Center.Donations to the Michigan Historical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 17035, Lansing, MI 48901,phone: (517) 373-2565, not only support projects that promote Michigan history, but are also taxdeductible to the full extent permitted by federal and state law.
Lansing Newspapers In Education (NIE) provides Lansing State Journalnewspapers and supplemental teaching materials for area classrooms atlittle or no cost to the schools. The newspaper becomes a “livingtextbook,” providing students with timely and relevant topics fordiscussion in class and at home.
If you are interested in sponsoring classroom papers or using thenewspaper in your classroom, please contact Michelle Ringlein, NIEManager at (517) 377-1242.
MICH IGANHistorical CenterFOUNDATION
Michigan Time TravelerAn educational supplement produced by Lansing Newspapers In Education, Inc. and the Michigan Historical Center Foundation.
Apron Strings
Aprons sometimes collect food stains, but
they also collect history. This month the
Time Traveler is trying on aprons at the
Michigan Historical Museum’s
Apron Strings: Ties to the Past exhibit.
What Is an Apron?The word apron comes from aFrench word, naperon, meaning asmall tablecloth. An apron is anarticle of clothing usually worn onthe front of the body and tiedaround the waist with strings. It isused to protect clothing, to cover thebody or to adorn a costume.
An apron can be made of cloth,plastic, leather or other material.Half aprons tie around the waistwith a skirt that hangs in front of thebody. Full aprons have a skirt and atop section called a bib. Aprons areoften hand-made, but can also bepurchased ready-made.
Who Wears Aprons?Many people say they can almost smell goodfood cooking when they see an apron thatreminds them of their mom or grandmother.Some dads like to wear aprons when theybarbecue outdoors in summer.Throughout history aprons have also been asign of certain occupations. Fishermen woreoilskin aprons. Blacksmiths and carpentershad leather ones. Butlers and maids woreclean white aprons. Lumberyard workersoften had short canvas aprons withadvertising on the front and pockets fornails.Many people have an apron as part of theirhistoric national costume. They wear theseaprons today for special celebrations. Butthe apron probably had a useful purposeyears ago.Do you ever wear an apron? Perhaps youwear it when you eat, help in the kitchen,paint or do crafts. At your dentist’s office aprotective apron is put over you when youhave your teeth X-rayed. Have you everworn one of the garments that have replacedaprons in modern times, such as a smock,jumpsuit or coveralls?
Many people stillenjoy wearing
and makingaprons. This spring
women, men andchildren who sewmade aprons for the“Michigan ApronChallenge.” These are
some aprons with a“Michigan” theme.Other apronshave a “patriotic”or a “vintage-look” theme. Theyare on display atthe museum
through August 18.
Rhonda Marvin of Laingsburgmade this apron called “BeautifulMichigan.” Her apron story showsus that an apron can have a lot ofhistory.
Aprons have always been an importantpart of my life. They were one of thefirst things I learned to sew and iron.
In the 1950s my mother sewedaprons for the Jacobson’s stores tosupplement the family income. Ican still remember the many yardsof beautiful fabric, buttons and biastape. This adventure not onlycreated extra income, it broughtour family lasting friendships.
The pattern I used for theMichigan theme apron was onemy mother used for the apronsshe made for Jacobson’s. I chosethe blue to represent ourbeautiful Great Lakes and manywaterfalls. The pastoral scene remindsme of an area south of Mackinaw Cityon I-75. As you round a slight curve inthe highway, you see a farm scenemuch like the scene in this fabric.
Things to Do• Ask your grandparents or great-grandparents
about what they remember about aprons.Write a story about their apron memories.
• Read My Apron by Eric Carle or Ma Dear’sAprons by Patricia McKissack to someoneyounger than you. These books are available atyour local library or bookstore.
• Visit the Apron Strings exhibit on the Web forpictures of interesting aprons and “Kids’ Stuff”activities:http://www.michiganhistory.org/aprons.html.
• Teachers, school may be out for the summer,but you will find lesson plans for the MichiganTime Traveler atwww.michiganhistory.org/timetraveler.
At the Museum• See the aprons on display in Apron Strings: Ties to the
Past. It’s a special exhibit at the Michigan HistoricalMuseum until August 18, 2002. Try on an apron ordesign your own.
• There are more aprons in the exhibits on the 2ndand 3rd floors of the museum, too. Look for the“Victory Garden” apron in the Arsenal ofDemocracy exhibit and the patchwork apron in the1930s bungalow.
The Michigan Historical Museum, 717 W. Allegan St.,Lansing is located two blocks west of the Capitol indowntown Lansing. Museum admission is free.Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Themuseum telephone hotline: (517) 373-3559. Themuseum is part of the Michigan Historical Center,Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Visit us onthe Web: www.michiganhistory.org.
These men were photographed around the end of the 19th century.Sometimes clothing gives us clues to old photos. We know these menwere cooks because they wore aprons. They worked on a wanigan, afloating bunkhouse for men who helped float logs down to sawmills onthe Muskegon River. (State Archives)
Nigel and Victoria Little take a closer look at patrioticaprons on exhibit at the Michigan Historical Museum.Victoria was in first grade and Nigel in second grade atthe Washington School in Bay City this past year.
The patchwork apron isfrom the 1930s. TheVictory Garden apron isfrom the World War IIyears during the 1940s.The red apron withpioneer scenes is fromthe 1950s. Thesehistorical aprons are inthe collection of theMichigan HistoricalMuseum.
Putting Michigan on an Apron
Aprons in History1900s Many aprons do not have neck straps. The top of
the apron’s bib is pinned to the women’s blouseor dress near the shoulder.
1910s Herbert H. Hoover is in charge of the U.S. FoodAdministration during and after World War I. Anapron style is named for him. The wrap-aroundfull “Hooverette” or “Hoover apron” is popularinto the 1920s.
1920s During the Roaring Twenties there is a widerchoice of apron styles. Wealthy women wearfancy half aprons. Stores sell kits to make apronswith embroidered designs.
1930s During the Great Depression women can’t affordmany pretty dresses. Aprons–some made fromfeed sacks–protect their clothes. In 1939 Dorothywears a blue and white gingham pinafore-styleapron in the hit movie The Wizard of Oz.
1940s Women wear aprons or jumpsuits at work inWorld War II factories and flowery print apronsat home.
1950s During the “baby boom” homemakers wear avariety of aprons from fancy holiday styles touseful cobbler aprons. TV moms on Ozzie andHarriet, Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Bestlead the fashion trend.
1960s More women work outside the home and useautomatic clothes washers. Terry cloth halfaprons are popular.
1970s Permanent press fabrics and improved laundryproducts mean less need for aprons. Noveltyaprons with printed humorous or cute messagesbecome popular.
1980s The barbecue apron is a popular style for bothmen and women. Aprons become collectibles tolook for at antique and flea markets.
1990s Aprons with logos are often part of a worker’suniform in food stores or restaurants. Thebarbecue-style apron with prints of lighthouses,cats, hot peppers or clever sayings is a populartravel souvenir. But you don’t find aprons inmany homes anymore.
Apron Strings: Ties to the Past is a program of ExhibitsUSA,a National Division of Mid-America Arts Alliance.
