Civil War Ladies: Fashions and Needle-Arts of the Early 1860’s

What did women do during past wars? History was not written with them in mind and we can only get information from women’s publications of the times. Here we have a country wounded, scarred, and in mourning. Women had to bear these burdens and were not liberated enough to really institute change. Civil War Ladies contains hundreds of fashions, patterns, under garments, needlework, hair styles, items made at home, and many songs of parting and sorrow. Hair jewelry was also important as ‘remembrance’ or ‘mourning’ jewelry and a large selection is illustrated. Primary Source Material is mostly from Peterson’s Magazine (an American publication) of 1861 and 1865.