Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Sewing machines are now in the front line of defense against the pandemic as people around the world are making masks for themselves and health care workers. This is not the first time that people have organized sewing circles for a cause. Museum Theater Specialist Julie Garner takes us back 180 years...
*Correction regarding Anti-Slavery potholder (3:04)*:
The item used in this video is a reproduction based on a potholder in the museum's collection.
You can see information about the original potholder at https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1305703
Based on the design and materials of the original potholder, the museum staff concludes that it was likely made during or shortly after the Civil War.
Even though this object was likely created by white opponents of slavery, it shows stereotypical images of black people that do not represent the work and aspirations of African Americans who resisted slavery and fought to end it.
Interested in learning more about Abolitionist Lucy Caldwell and her anti-slavery efforts?
https://americanhistory.si.edu/within-these-walls
What is the History Alive! Theater Program at NMAH?
youtube.com/watch?v=dy8seklhH6c (Join Us Promo 2014)
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZxSSLX6InCTg9A2Gj5Bt2i36f02bgHId (History Alive YouTube Playlist)
For Theater-related digital classroom resources, see Smithsonian's History Explorer:
https://historyexplorer.si.edu/search-results/?r=3&g=&e=&c=28
For more information on NMAH's Theater Specialist Julie Garner:
https://americanhistory.si.edu/profile/1367
Sewing machines are now in the front line of defense against the pandemic as people around the world are making masks for themselves and health care workers. This is not the first time that people have organized sewing circles for a cause. Museum Theater Specialist Julie Garner takes us back 180 years...
*Correction regarding Anti-Slavery potholder (3:04)*:
The item used in this video is a reproduction based on a potholder in the museum's collection.
You can see information about the original potholder at https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1305703
Based on the design and materials of the original potholder, the museum staff concludes that it was likely made during or shortly after the Civil War.
Even though this object was likely created by white opponents of slavery, it shows stereotypical images of black people that do not represent the work and aspirations of African Americans who resisted slavery and fought to end it.
Interested in learning more about Abolitionist Lucy Caldwell and her anti-slavery efforts?
https://americanhistory.si.edu/within-these-walls
What is the History Alive! Theater Program at NMAH?
youtube.com/watch?v=dy8seklhH6c (Join Us Promo 2014)
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZxSSLX6InCTg9A2Gj5Bt2i36f02bgHId (History Alive YouTube Playlist)
For Theater-related digital classroom resources, see Smithsonian's History Explorer:
https://historyexplorer.si.edu/search-results/?r=3&g=&e=&c=28
For more information on NMAH's Theater Specialist Julie Garner:
https://americanhistory.si.edu/profile/1367
