100 Years of Silk in the Valley
In the latest of our History Bites Lunchtime Lecture series, on Friday, May 10th, at 12:15, join us as Marjorie Senechal, professor emerita of Mathematics and History at Smith College, unravels one hundred years of silk history and manufacturing in the Pioneer valley. Drawing from research from her book American Silk, 1830-1930: Entrepreneurs and Artifacts, Professor Senechal will throw light on this once-thriving industry, whose local relics include both Wistariahurst in Holyoke and the Silk Mill building on Route 9 in Northampton.
This talk will take place next door in the Jones Library’s Woodbury Room, to accommodate a larger audience.
History Bites is a series of thirty minute lectures to inform and entertain, covering various aspects of the history of Amherst and the lives of those who once lived here.
Bring your lunch, and we provide coffee, tea and cider for you as you listen to the presentations. The thirty-minute programs begin promptly at 12:15 with seating and beverages ready just before noon. The lectures are free and everyone is welcome to attend.
(Click here to see the complete schedule of Spring 2019 History Bites.)
Dressing Up, Dressing Down
Come explore our new exhibit, “Dressing Up: Women’s Fashion Through the Gilded Age” curated by Hampshire College thesis student Molly O’Donnell! This exhibit examines the dichotomy of public/private presentation through an exploration of women’s ‘house’ and ‘street’ clothes throughout the 19th century! This is your chance to see a beautifully curated collected of dresses from our clothing collection all on display at once, and learn about the evolution of women’s fashion in 19th century America.
Soap, Water, and Wool- Felted Soap Making Workshop
POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN! We will let you know as soon as a new date is selected.
Soap and a washcloth, all in one! Join fiber artist Flo Rosenstock on Sunday, April 28th from 1-3pm for a hands-on felted-soap making workshop for the whole family! To create felted soap, a bar of soap is wrapped in wool fleece, wet, and agitated to created a felted soap with a colorful, slightly abrasive surface. Then you can use it as you would any soap, except that it will last longer and be fun to admire! Learn how to make your own felted soap, and then take it home. This workshop will have a $1 materials fee per participant.
These are all entries under the letter “C” in the book Amherst A to Z, written by Elizabeth Sharpe. The book is illustrated with pictures of artifacts from the Amherst History Museum, historic images from the Jones Library’s Special Collections, as well as photographs of our town and the folks who live here.