Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 01 February 2004 Vol 3 Issue: #05 ISBN: pending Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, Fifty years ago last Thursday, 29 January 1954, I caught the "brass ring" when Barb and I were married in our then Church. She was an excellent domesticated person with a great sense of family, etc. As we lived together we developed a much more equal partnership type of relationship. We went through the "usual" rocky periods, ups, downs and tragedies. None to be relived, traded or sorry for, as they have all contributed to who we are today. However, I noticed in one of our local libraries this week a display soliciting for a historic presentation and display of "aprons". Having a very acute sense of humor it didn't take long for a thought to cross my mind. In the 1960s, women proclaimed freedom from domestication and began burning some bras. In that process, this question formed in my mind: In burning their bras, what did women shed? Yep, you got it!! APRONS!! This brought me to articles and editorials of recent days about "candidates wives", even though having a separate and independent" persona from their husbands, they are being forced "politically" back into the role of "housewives" ... using their "married" name rather than their maiden or business names. Thus, I decided to do this article on the history and place of the "apron" in American culture. However, I am not alone with this idea. As mentioned above, one of my local libraries is having an historic presentation about aprons. There will be styles as well as famous aprons included. Aprons to be displayed, among others, at the Way Library in Perrysburg, Ohio will be aprons belonging to Mamie Eisenhower, Lucy Hayes, and Hope Taft. Mamie everyone knows, Lucy most folks know to be the "First Lady" of Rutherford B Hayes, and Ohioans will recognize Hope, the wife of the present Governor of Ohio, Robert Taft. Growing up in the 1930s, my Grandmothers, all their sisters and daughters[-in-laws], wore aprons. There were aprons to cook in, and aprons to meet guests in, and aprons to serve food in. And, now that I think about it, there were aprons to do "housework". I guess the place to start the history of aprons is with the idea that aprons were the "practical" side of wearing clothing. Women didn't have "wash and wear" fabrics or extensive wardrobes. Extensive washing of dresses wore them out much more quickly than was practical. Before my time clothes were washed in large tubs with the use of "scrubbing" boards quite common. Well, even as I was growing up these items were still "common". During the late 1930s and beyond, "wringer" washers were becoming popular, but clothes were hung outside on lines to dry. Every piece of clothing had to be "ironed", there was not yet permanent press and "dryers".. Thus, aprons served a very practical purpose ... that of covering and protecting the dress beneath. This did save on washing, for dresses were washed once a week, while aprons could be washed two or even three time a week. Aprons were not restricted to the domestic duties of housewives, for school teachers, children, shop- keepers, and secretaries wore various styles of aprons over other clothing. One should not forget that men also wore aprons ... just picture the blacksmith as an example, or shopkeepers. Every re-enactor in historic pageants wears an apron, usually a full apron reaching nearly to the floor. Along the way, the ingenuity of folks began to decorate these garments for seasons and purposes. For some reason, the word Victorian pinafore associates with decorative aprons in my mind. I remember ruffles on the shoulder straps [No, not potato chips.] which buttoned at the waist in the back. Ties fastened in the back to form a bow and pockets in front were added. Further decorations were along the bottom or borders. As the purpose for wearing the apron progressed from the kitchen to receiving guests aprons became more fanciful and less "full". Lighter material and laces were often used. As far as the true history of aprons go, one has to but read the first book of the Bible, Genesis, in Chapter three, where it says that they "sewed together fig leaves, and made themselves aprons". All dirty and dangerous work has utilized aprons for protection. Still in use today by butchers, waiters and welders. Aprons became so much a part of our culture that during the 1950s one hardly saw women in newspaper, magazine, television ads, or television shows not wearing one. >From Biblical mention to the middle ages aprons were not used seriously. Metalsmithing and blacksmithing utilized leather aprons for protection. Also, by then fishermen learned that they could protect their clothing from much of the "fishy" smell if they used wool aprons. Women began using aprons to protect their clothing in the early 1700s; maybe earlier. Aprons not only served as protection, but could be used as a tool also. For example, it could become a gathering basket for produce, eggs, etc and used as a cleaning cloth to wipe up things. Also, I watch my Grandmother use her apron as protection for her hands when taking hot things out of the oven or off the stove. Color developed as an identifying instrument. For example stonemasons wore white aprons, which traditionally are still used in the Masonic fraternal society. British barbers wore checked aprons and were known as "checkered" men. Blue has been used for gardeners, spinners, weavers and garbage men. Butlers wore green; butchers wore blue stripes; cobblers wore black. Masons were not the only ones to use white to identify their use, for don't we associate white with maids and servants? Service industries, such as servants and maids, wore long aprons, the upper panel was pinned to the dress. This of course has gone out of style and only the "half" apron is now used. For the today's macho [male], there are genderless and simple aprons for barbecues, etc. Though I have seen some imprinted with "humour". Most modern worker aprons are canvas style, with pockets for pens and pads. >From Victorian times the apron took on ornateness with the addition of lace and embroidery. These were used by "proper house matrons", not to protect their underclothing, but as to distinguish themselves from servants and maids. Since most women in those days made their own lace, etc, these aprons became a true craft that were worn with pride. As we move historically into the 1920s, following the World War, women began to move outside the home for work and/or social causes. The apron became less used for symbolic purposes and remained only for its practical use. I found mention of a "Hooverette" style which must have been the loose, wrap around apron of the late twenties. During the great depression of the 1930s, due to the lack of funds and materials, aprons were being made from scraps of clothing material and food sacks. How about those flour sack aprons with the advertising? From here the new freedom of design and materials led to aprons of calico. In addition, with the advent of home sewing machines the apron again took on the aura of symbolic pride. At the end of World War II, there was a return to the more traditional role for women as homemakers. Men returned to their jobs, and the home was promoted as paramount, fostered heavily by early televison. You might remember "Ozzie and Harriet", "Leave it to Beaver", and "Father Knows Best". Oh, Yeah, that last one!! "Gone are the days"!!! e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- PostScript: For those interested in the Way Library presentation: What: Apron Event: Style Show & History When: Saturday, Feb 7, 2004, 1:00pm Where: Perrysburg, Ohio, Way Library Memories of Aprons are requested. What you remember about aprons — yours, your mother's, grandmother's, or your dad's. You may turn your thoughts into the library at www.way.lib.oh.us or 419/74-31135 ext 109