How Do Clothing and Conflict Intertwine?

What can a hoop skirt, a soldier’s shirt, or a nurse’s apron reveal about a country at war with itself? Join Emma Rowland for an immersive journey into the clothing and material culture of the American Civil War. This richly illustrated lecture explores how Americans dressed, from the battlefield to the home front, and what those garments reveal about identity, survival, patriotism, and profound societal change. Guests will explore: Women’s wartime dress, from everyday work clothing to the iconic silhouette of the 1860s, how shortages, blockades, and industrial shifts altered what people could buy, sew, and repair, the clothing of soldiers and nurses, and the hidden labor of garment work, from enslaved seamstresses to Northern factory workers. Finally, what surviving garments and primary sources tell us about race, class, gender, and resilience during the war. This program connects the threads of material culture with the human stories that shaped the conflict. Visitors will leave with a deeper understanding of clothing as both artifact and witness to one of the most turbulent periods in American history. This lecture is $15/person and free to museum members. Please email [email protected] or call (703) 548 - 1789 with any questions. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance as space is limited.