I enjoy encountering obscure or different occupations from olden day. However, I was surprised to see something totally new today on the 1881 census - a woman working as a "blue wrapper." Any ideas? Regards, The Chief

The only thing I can think of is that she wrapped "washing blue" which was a block used to give the impression of whiteness to white laundry - in much the same way as some modern detergents have blue bits in them. Nuala "The Chief" <The_Chieftain@att.net> wrote in message news:1135225756.466462.77460@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com... > I enjoy encountering obscure or different occupations from olden day. > However, I was surprised to see something totally new today on the 1881 > census - a woman working as a "blue wrapper." Any ideas? > > Regards, > The Chief >

When I was a child in the 50s, there was a blue block which was used to treat wasp stings.... But I don't remember much about it. Derryhale

The Chief <The_Chieftain@att.net> wrote: : I enjoy encountering obscure or different occupations from olden day. : However, I was surprised to see something totally new today on the 1881 : census - a woman working as a "blue wrapper." Any ideas? http://www.gendocs.demon.co.uk/trades.html#B lists a Blue Maker as one who made the blue dye used to keep white fabric from yellowing in the laundry. In the States, I believe the substance was called "blueing" as there was once a factory for making it here in our town. Perhaps a blue wrapper was one that wrapped the cakes of this material. -dja